Fruth’s discussion, entitled “How Punitive Growth Management Rules Will
Cause the Decline of a Local Economy,” (download presentation*) attracted top leaders from throughout the Triangle. Among the attendees were Cary Mayor Ernie McAlister, Holly Springs Mayor Dick Sears, Raleigh City Councilor Thomas Crowder, Cary Town Council member Julie Aberg Robison, Wake County Planning Director Melanie Wilson, Raleigh City Planning Director George Chapman and Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce President Harvey Schmitt.

"Regulations intended to manage growth have an upside and a downside. The upside is a better quality of life. The downside of some growth regulations, however, is that they can have a broad, unintended impact on the local economy," says Chris Sinclair, President of the Triangle Community Coalition. “Bill Fruth’s presentation clearly outlined the potential dangers that punitive growth management rules pose to a local economy.”

“A community can have growth management regulations, but growth management programs which are punitive in nature are often considered as ways to stop growth,” said Fruth. “Examples of such punitive measures include excessive fees, built-in delays and expensive, complicated development standards.”

“Such ‘punitive’ growth management measures rarely halt population growth,” Fruth continues. “Instead, they will slow or stall economic growth.”

Raleigh City Councilor, Thomas Crowder	A room full of opinion leaders listen to Mr. Fruth

About William Fruth
William Fruth has extensive experience in economic development. He served as Vice President of a major industrial land development company from 1988 until 1995, directing the development and marketing of a 500-acre corporate park in the West Palm Beach, Florida area. He previously served as President of the Palm Beach County Business Development Board, and in 1987 he was named Florida’s Economic Development Professional. From 1980 to 1984 Fruth served in a full time capacity as Mayor of Tiffin, Ohio. During that time he was named one of the “Five Outstanding Young Men in Ohio” and was heavily involved in economic and community development locally and statewide. He has personally evaluated the data for more than 600 local economies in the United States, created more than 150 economic and community studies, and has provided presentations and workshops for state and national associations and local communities on the condition of their respective economies in 30 states since 1998. See www.policom.com for more information.

William Fruth, of POLICOM, Inc. talks about growth management and the local economy	TCC Chairman, Gordon Grubb introduces the speaker

For more information contact: 
Christopher Sinclair 919.654.5418
rcsinclair@trianglecommunitycoalition.org