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From:Don VAlho# To:809 Qrowfrer Date:8rNM Time:00:24,04 Page 1 of 2 <br /> 3-3�- 9s <br /> W. <br /> MEMORANDUM <br /> TO: Orange County Board of Commissioners <br /> John Link, County Manager <br /> FROM: Don Willhoit <br /> DATE:March 29, 1995 <br /> SUBJECT: School Capital Funding <br /> In the past few weeks, we have been provided with very persuasive data and testimony regarding <br /> the crowding crisis in the Chapel Hill-Carrboro school system. We have also been presented with <br /> a wide variety of actions that we should take to abate the crisis. I was very impressed with the <br /> report presented by the SOS group which suggests that the number of children generated per <br /> household is much greater we have assumed. I think we all agree that a comprehensive, multi- <br /> pronged approach needs to be taken to alleviate the school facility crisis. Although there are <br /> numerous things that might be done, I would suggest that we initially focus on those items which <br /> can be accomplished without special legislation and without lengthy study. The items that I <br /> recommend as the foundation of a comprehensive program and for immediate action are as <br /> follows: <br /> IMPACT FEES <br /> 1. Update technical report to recalculate the maximum flat fee that can be justified for each <br /> school system. Conduct another public hearing to receive input on a more substantial increase <br /> in the impact fee. If a higher level fee for the Chapel Hill-Carrboro system can be justified, <br /> based on the revised technical report, include that alternative in the public hearing. Note: the <br /> higher flat fee should be an interim step until data are collected to prepare a sliding scale <br /> proposal. The impact on affordable housing should be minimal since builders are not <br /> currently building smaller, affordable housing. <br /> 2. Authorize the Planning Department to employ interns to gather data necessary to prepare a <br /> "sliding scale" proposal which will place more of the impact fee burden on larger houses <br /> (assuming that the study demonstrates that larger houses generate more children than smaller <br /> houses). <br /> LAND FOR FUTURE SCHOOL SITES <br /> 3. Request both school systems to identify future school sites for incorporation into municipal <br /> and county land use plans. <br /> 4. Request municipalities to consider limiting the rate of approval of new residential <br /> development so as not to out-pace the ability of the county to provide additional schools. <br />