Agenda - 04-30-2007-b - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

r' Second page School Site Identification We recognize the fact that it is important to look beyond "traditional schools" — large schools that require 25 tD 50 acres of land — to more non traditional school sites that would offer flexnbility and accommodate various local conditions including the availability, or lack i' wmt of land. One of our next tasks is to collaborate with our municipal partners and identify potential future school sites that fit the parameters outlined in the standards. The ultimate goal of this process would be the county, which is statutorily responsible for funding school construction, might possibly consider opportunities to "land banle'properties that' would be suitable for future school sites. Future school sites in the county are becoming more limited as growth and development c;ontumes. Therefore, we must be smarter and more proactive in. ,cooperating to identify and preserve suitable school sites for in advance of our needs• Land bnnMn will allow the County to find sites that exhibit as many smart growth attributes as possible consistent with. our Standards. Such smart growth.attn'butes, although not adopted at this point, can include a variety of ingests from public transportation and wallcability to green building designed schools and the community communication aspects therein. Our collective past work with regard to the Schools Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance (SAPFO) has helped us project future school capital needs for a ton -year period. There is a significant amount of lead-time needed before future school doors open. Site search and acquisition, f moving, regulatory approvals, and building and iufrasfructure construction can be time -con aspects. Local governments know their jurisdictions best, from land use regulations and processes to the infrastructure necessary to serve the area in a timely manner. Schools, municipalities and county government have worked together in the past and used their local knowledge geographical nlfiamation systems (GIS) to help find prime-school sites. Our most recent collaboration successes were the siting of Carrboro High School and Gravelly Middle School. To that end, our work group would Me to see this identification, Process formalized. Based on most recent student membership projections, the Chapel Hill. Cmboro School system will need additional elementary and middle school space in thenextthree- to-six years. Therefore, it seems reasonable to ask our staffs to initiate a pilot school siting process for these facilities in the near future. Although the pilot program will primarily involve sites within the Chapel Hill Carrbwo School District, we envision subsequent formalizing the process within the Orange County Schools District.