Orange County NC Website
Attachment 1 5 <br /> Revised for BOCC approval on 10/17/00 <br /> • Once a system acquires a site and before grading begins, each school system <br /> receives State approval of its erosion control plan and additional County review to <br /> ensure that unnecessary cutting of trees or clearing of land does not occur. <br /> Adequate natural buffers are to be left intact with existing trees, or replanted if the <br /> areas are disturbed during construction. Special attention should be paid to <br /> "specimen"trees as outlined in the County land development code. <br /> Road and Utility Requirements — Major elements for a system to consider in siting a <br /> new facility relate to infrastructure requirements by a Town or other public utility. In <br /> some recent instances, the systems have been required to provide costly infrastructure <br /> such as sidewalks and road improvements. These elements greatly inflate <br /> construction costs of new facilities. As a system begins initial planning, there should <br /> be a joint meeting between elected Town, County and Education officials to discuss <br /> particular requirements that all parties expect of other project partners. <br /> 3. Building Design Standards <br /> As a school system selects a particular facility design, it is important that the most cost-effective <br /> design alternative be pursued. Historically in Orange County, new school buildings have been <br /> designed uniquely for each particular project. The Board of Commissioners encourages systems <br /> to pursue non-traditional, or prototype, designs that can be replicated for use on more than one <br /> project. Should a system choose a unique design, it is to provide a detailed cost comparison <br /> analysis and justification in writing of why that particular approach was chosen over a <br /> prototype design. <br /> 4. Construction Standards <br /> Over the past few years, the County has given special attention to defining construction <br /> standards for each school level— elementary, middle and high schools. The standards provide a <br /> minimum and maximum square footage and student capacity for each level. As a system <br /> undertakes construction of a new facility, it is critical that the system adheres to the most recent <br /> school construction standards (estimated project cost should include a reasonable allowance for <br /> inflation). <br /> The Commissioners agree to provide funding for new school facilities that are designed within <br /> the adopted standards. They do not agree to fund projects that go beyond the adopted standards <br /> unless there is sufficient justification provided in writing by the Board of Education. One <br /> justification for going beyond the standards centers on community use of the new facility. For <br /> example, a system may design a facility with a "larger than standards gymnasium" that allows <br /> for citizen/community use. In this case, the system must provide detailed explanations outlining <br /> the benefits to be offered to the community and citizens, in the context of the intergovernmental <br /> "Memorandum of Agreement for Providing Coordinated Site and Facility Planning". <br /> Page 3 of 6 <br /> Policy on Planning and Funding School Capital Projects <br />