Business park proposed near eco-park in N.C.

Once part of a giant landfill project, a 134-acre business park proposed for Camden County near the Chesapeake border could create more than 500 jobs.

It would sit along U.S. 17, one mile north of Camden County's planned 100-acre, publicly owned eco-friendly business park.

"I think they will complement each other," said Richard Browner, a land planning consultant and a partner in Camden Land Development. "We've always felt good about this location."

If both succeed, they could turbo-charge Camden County's longtime effort to bring industry to one of the poorest counties in the state.

"That whole area up there, several thousand acres, I would envision all of that becoming a large continuous development," said Randell Woodruff, Camden County manager.

Earlier this year, Camden County got a $2 million grant from the Golden Leaf Foundation to run sewer lines to the north end of the county. A short extension will get sewer lines to the private park.

"That made it practical," Browner said. "That's what has been missing."

Construction would begin in roughly two years, Browner said. When finished, the private park would generate about 524 jobs and $458,340 annually in real estate taxes, he said. Camden Land Development's partners include Gordon Dillon of Norfolk and Vincent J. Mastracco Jr., a lawyer with Kaufman & Canoles.

The site was once part of a larger project that included a mega-landfill that drew opposition from the city of Chesapeake and many local residents. Fees from the landfill, which would have taken trash from large Northeast cities, were expected to earn the county at least $1 million annually.

But a state law passed in 2007 and supported by state Sen. Marc Basnight made the landfill illegal. Basnight promised to support a publicly owned, environmentally friendly business park and helped get the $2 million grant for sewer lines.

About 2-1/2 miles south of the state line, the Camden eco-park consists of 100 acres, including a 34-acre pond. About 62 acres can be developed.

Green Eco Institute Inc., founded specifically for the Camden industrial site, plans to lease 10 acres and build at least three buildings as incubators for new businesses in fields such as alternative energy and recycling.

Businesses could be operating there by the end of next year, said Peter Thomson, senior associate with the company.

Early on, the commerce park was viewed as a long shot. A study conducted last year on the feasibility of the park concluded it would cost about $40 million to build, including sewer costs. Thanks in part to the grants, construction estimates for the first phase are about $2.3 million, Thomson said.

Camden's new economic development commission held its first meeting Tuesday. Camden also hopes to get federal stimulus grant money to expand its reverse-osmosis water plant, said Dan Porter, director of the Camden County Planning Department.

Jeff Hampton, (252) 338-0159, jeff.hampton@pilotonline.com