Orange County NC Website
38 <br /> • civil consultants <br /> LAND DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANTS <br /> Carolina Friends School <br /> Project Narrative for Re-Zoning to Non-Residential Conditional District <br /> Overview and Context <br /> Carolina Friends School (CFS) is a unique educational institution deeply rooted in the values of <br /> the Quaker tradition. Located in Orange County, North Carolina, CFS sits on -110 acres, a <br /> significant portion of which remains undisturbed, reflecting both an appreciation for the rural <br /> character of this area and the school's commitment to environmental stewardship. <br /> CFS currently serves over 500 students, with approximately 460 of them on the main campus <br /> located along Friends School Road and approximately 40 students located on our Early <br /> School campuses in Durham (404 Alexander Ave) and Chapel Hill (531 Raleigh Road). <br /> With over 60 years' experience managing the timely and choreographed growth of school <br /> facilities, and acknowledging current growth trends, the School is looking to position itself to <br /> accommodate increased enrollment while underscoring our deep respect for the natural <br /> environment, and our commitment to "sit lightly on the land" —a core principle in Quaker <br /> philosophy that reflects our desire to use resources sparingly and mindfully. <br /> Sustainability and Environmental Stewardship <br /> Sustainability is central to both the ethos and the operation of CFS. Our plans for the campus <br /> expansion prioritize limiting the number of trees impacted by construction and include <br /> replanting trees wherever possible. <br /> Facilities will be designed with sustainability at the forefront, incorporating eco-friendly <br /> practices to ensure we are minimizing our ecological footprint. We will continue to employ our <br /> tradition of sustainable construction methods to reduce energy consumption by designing <br /> buildings that integrate natural light and capture and incorporate geothermal heating and solar <br /> energy. <br /> Traffic and Access <br /> Currently, the main entrance to campus is located on Friends School Road, and traffic is <br /> managed with the assistance of the county sheriff's department during peak drop-off and <br /> pick-up times. With this re-zoning, we will open an additional entrance on Mount Sinai Road, <br /> which is currently gated and only open for use on rare occasions. This new entrance will help <br /> reduce traffic on Friends School Road by essentially splitting the number of drivers between <br /> the two access points while also providing a second full access drive for emergency services. <br />