Guiding Corinth Toward a Better Future

Preparing for Business Development

Why do we need commercial development?

             Commercial development is important to communities like Corinth. If the city relies only upon residential growth, the tax burden will be carried by residents. Building commercial development will help the city in two ways:

· Commercial operations paying taxes to fund city operations will reduce the tax burden on residential property owners.

· Retail development generates sales tax for the city. Currently, residents pay sales taxes on goods they purchase outside Corinth, but these taxes only benefit other cities.

Why has commercial development been slow in Corinth?

Commercial development has been slow for several reasons. The current recession brought an end to a seven-year economic expansion in this country. That expansion skipped Corinth. We were skipped because the city was not ready for development:

· Much of our commercial property does not have the infrastructure (roads, sewer, water) needed to support commercial development.

· Our codes are cumbersome and sometimes conflicting. They need to be streamlined to accommodate quality, desirable commercial development.

Taking Action

We have issued certificates of obligation to pay for many of these needed capital improvement projects. The council has also funded the development of “unified development codes” which will streamline the development process.

The current economic downturn gives us an opportunity to prepare for the next expansion. If the next Mayor supports the completion of these projects, this city will be prepared for commercial development in the future. I strongly support completing those projects.

What success has Corinth had in the past three years?

In the past three years, Christian Brothers Automotive has moved to Corinth. Ashton Gardens, an upscale wedding and meeting facility, will locate at Post Oak and I-35E and will likely stimulate additional high-quality growth in that area. The Children’s Courtyard is another high quality development that will help serve the residents in our city. The Economic Development Corporation continues to assist the owner of the former Boeing building on I-35E in finding a long-term tenant.

Not all commercial development is right for this city. The council unanimously denied Value Place Motel from building in Corinth. Value Place is a motel chain that offers its rooms by the week and not for single overnight stays. Sometimes motels that follow this business model inadvertently become transient, low income apartments. Another business that I thought did not blend well with Corinth was a tattoo parlor. I voted against issuing a special use permit for the tattoo parlor, but my opponent supported it.

I am proud to say that I was a part of two key commercial developments in Corinth in the past three years.

Comfort Inn

(Swisher Road)—I served on the Economic Development Corporation when we approved an incentive to attract this quality, brand-name hotel. The development will bring property tax and hotel occupancy taxes to the city. Perhaps even more important, the land where the hotel was built is now ready for additional development. This hotel will spawn other commercial development that will bring revenue to the city.

The council unanimously approved this incentive.

Atrium Hospital

The Atrium Hospital is a medical building recognized by the Dallas Business Journal as a finalist for on of the best medical projects in the Metroplex. This recognition has highlighted Corinth as a desired place for commercial development. In addition to the 200 high-paying, recession-resistant jobs it brings to Corinth, the hospital has also sparked additional quality development projects. The hospital was a key feature that spawned additional developments including medical offices and a neighborhood retail shopping center that blend well with the surrounding neighborhood.

Approving a zoning variance to allow the hospital to be built across from city hall was a controversial vote at the time. I thought then, as I do now, that this hospital is an important anchor to bring quality, desirable development to the east side of the highway. I voted in favor of a zoning change that allowed the hospital to be constructed.

My opponent voted against the zoning change and the hospital’s construction.

Looking to the future

I favor continuing to build the water services, sewer services and improved streets that will make our commercial properties attractive to quality, desirable commercial development. As Mayor I will continue to support and promote these projects. We will be rewarded in the future with a continuation of low tax rates made possible by commercial tax revenues.

 

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