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3 <br />the developer to the planning jurisdiction and the plan could go forward. If the school system determines they <br />cannot absorb the additional enrollment, then the developer would have to wait until the schools are available. An <br />issue for further discussion concerns what to do if the developer wanted to move forward with the development in <br />spite of the lack of facilities. What options would the developer have? One possible option is for the developer to <br />take some responsibility for how fast the needed school would be available. He said that the attorneys are <br />currently working on preliminary documents. Mike Brough has done some work with this model in the City of Cary. <br />That model will be brought to the governments as soon as possible. <br />Craig Benedict stated that the first step in this process is an analysis of existing conditions. This includes reviewing <br />data on the existing student population as well as approved developments which are not completed. Also, student <br />generation rates need to be created. They could be based on the type of housing, number of bedrooms, <br />townhouses, etc. Mitigation measures need to be looked at by the schools. For example, mobile classrooms, <br />changing school boundaries, etc. It would also be important to look at interim solutions. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis asked if the Town of Hillsborough received the letter from Council member McClintock. He <br />feels that they need to be included in this discussion process and that a meeting be scheduled with them to discuss <br />these issues. John Link indicated that he plans to meet with the Hillsborough Town Manager next week. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis mentioned that Harvey Goldstein suggested that the County take over student enrollment <br />projections because the State Department of Instruction's figures have not shown an accurate projection of student <br />enrollment in recent years.. The data necessary for tracking student projections is available locally and it would be <br />extremely helpful for the County to take responsibility for generating these projections. <br />Chair Gordon mentioned that there is a tremendous amount of growth being planned for northern Orange County <br />and at the March meeting of the Schools and Land Use Councils they discussed adequate public facilities. There is <br />an emerging consensus that something needs to be done to get school facilities online in a timely manner. There <br />is also a need to be proactive about locating potential school sites. <br />Commissioner Carey suggested sending Council member McClintock's letter to both Durham and Mebane <br />because they are both encroaching into Orange County. <br />Bob Bateman suggested to the Board of Commissioners that they consider the problem of over-development. One <br />characteristic of the new developments being proposed is the trend toward rezoning to the R-3 designation. He <br />stated that there are steps that can be taken to restrict growth and one of those steps would be to deny requests to <br />zone to higher densities. <br />Roger Waldon stated that a lot is already known about the growth and development patterns. There is a set urban <br />area and Chapel Hill and Carrboro both have Land Use Plans in place which makes it possible to make projections. <br />They have recently commissioned a survey of potential sites and now know what sites are available. <br />Nick Didow encouraged the Board of County Commissioners to provide funds to both of the school districts to build <br />school facilities at the time the projections indicate they are needed. This will avoid a repeat of the situation which <br />developed ten years ago when the need existed well before the schools were built. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis mentioned the newspaper article he read recently in which the Shaping Orange County's <br />Future Task Force was quoted as saying that Orange County would need to build 20 schools in the next thirty <br />years. This would mean many bond referendums unless growth management is kept in the forefront as a priority. <br />With respect to the Orange County School Board, it is the Town of Hillsborough that is driving growth. Also, <br />Durham is growing to the east and Mebane is growing to the West. He would not be surprised to find growth on <br />Highway 70 East coming from Durham. <br />Elizabeth Carter agreed that it is important to stay updated on this issue. She also stated that it is extremely <br />important the builders take responsibility for some of this growth. <br />Rick Kennedy mentioned that one important part of this planning process is collocation. He feels that it definitely <br />needs to be incorporated into every project if at all possible. <br />SCHOOL/COUNTY COLLABORATION ON CAPITAL PROJECT MANAGEMENT (Value Engineering): County <br />John Link stated that over the last ten to twelve years the County, in cooperation with the school systems, has <br />spent in excess of one hundred twenty million dollars to address the needs of both school systems. The County <br />Q:\19990331 a.doc 7