Orange County NC Website
The Board considered approving a proposed School Adequate Public Facilities memorandum <br />of understanding (MOU} and considered confirming the future intention to adopt a model ordinance <br />(SAPFO}. <br />Craig Benedict pointed out the revised abstract (lavender}. There has been an extensive <br />amount of input from every jurisdiction and every perspective. <br />Orange County is in a different position from the majority of the other participants because we <br />have development permit authority in the Orange County School district and in the Chapel Hill-Carrboro <br />School district. When Orange County passes the MOU and the ordinance, it will be clear that the <br />development process will have certain specific aspects. Staff is asking that the County Commissioners <br />approve the MOU for the two school districts with the addendums noted in the abstract. One addendum <br />to the MOU was a clause from the Tawn of Carrboro that asked that when the projection numbers come <br />out of the Planners/School Representatives Technical Advisory Committee, that they are distributed as <br />loan as possible for comment and input by the local governments and parties to the local agreement. <br />The Town of Carrboro also asks that they remain involved in the program as long as the County <br />Commissioners continue to adequately fund the CIP. In the Chapel Hill-Carrboro School district at this <br />time, there are no capacity problems that would cause an instant moratorium. So the level of service <br />percentages {105°~ for elementary, 107% for middle, and 110°~ for high school} can be implemented <br />without any problem. However, in the Orange County School district, the middle school level is over <br />capacity (about 110°~.) This would create a de facto moratorium, meaning that housing growth would be <br />deferred until the correction is made. There is funding for the next Orange County middle school within <br />the next three years, but it is not the intent to start off an ordinance with a moratorium. The <br />Administration is recommending that all of the information continue to be collected, but that the adequacy <br />test for the middle school be suspended for the three-year period until the new middle school opens. <br />This would not create a de facto moratorium. The model ordinance is not to be adopted tonight. <br />Craig Benedict made reference to the seven variables in the first abstract (not the lavender), <br />page 25. When the Board votes on the MOU's, it will also be voting that these decision points are <br />included in the recommendation. He explained the seven decision points. <br />Public Comment <br />Virginia Knapp, the new Director of External Affairs for the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber of <br />Commerce, thanked the County Commissioners for the time to comment on the SAPFO. She said that <br />they would do everything in their power to ensure that their schools continue to be an example to the <br />State and nation. The Chamber recognizes and appreciates the County Commissioners' willingness to <br />reexamine County programs and policy. She said that the letter from the Chamber attempts to identify <br />one issue that Chamber members think could be easily fixed prior to the MOU and SAPFO being set in <br />place. If level of service standards were set at 105% for elementary, 110°~ for middle, and 120°~ for <br />high schools, then no threat of a moratorium or challenges to the ordinance would arise prior to the <br />opening of the new middle and high schools in Chapel Hill-Carrboro Schools. The Chamber is also <br />concerned about haw the ordinance will affect the availability of affordable housing. The Chamber wants <br />to work with the County, the Towns, and the schools to ensure that the community continues to grow at a <br />sustainable pace. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis said that he respects the Chamber's position. He said that when the <br />level of service goes beyond the 110%, especially in a high school, then you are only containing human <br />beings. He said that 120°~ would be a scary number for him as a veteran high school principal. <br />Commissioner Carey thanked the Chamber for the comments. He asked if there was a <br />reason beyond the history that the Chamber is concerned about the County Commissioners' commitment <br />to school funding. He asked what kind of pledge the Chamber was asking for beyond the CIP that is <br />adopted every year. <br />Virginia Knapp said that the Chamber wants to make sure that the level of funding far schools <br />continues in the future and that the same commitment is there. <br />Commissioner Jacobs made reference to page 33 and the CIP and suggested a little more <br />information on how the CIP works as part of the frequently asked questions. Also, whether a major <br />developer can monopolize CAPS is not addressed in the frequently asked questions. Also, how a <br />different capacity is assigned to each level of schools and how it works should be addressed for the <br />