I've not seen or heard much talk of this, but I for one have found it to be a wealth of information. Both locally as well as other areas I am doing market research to potentially invest in.
It's the local City Planning Commission, City Council Meetings, Chamber of Commerce and Small Business Resource Centers. They are a wealth of information. I will literally log into the City/County sites and read the last several months of meeting minutes. You will discover a ton of information as to what is going on 'live' in those areas, projected projects, proposals and submits for approvals, zoning changes, ordinance grantings and prohibitations just to name a few.