HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 06-26-2003-9CORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: June 26, 2003
Action AgendQ a
Item No. ~" ~.
SUBJECT: Schools Adequate Public Facilities Memorandum of Understanding and Ordinance
DEPARTMENT: County Manager/Planning/ County Attorney PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No
ATTACHMENT(S):
6/16/03 BOCC Chair Memo
6/25/03 County Attorney Letter
Explanation of Revisions (Enclosure 1)
Memorandum of Understanding -CHCSD
Memorandum of Understanding Addendum -CHCSD
Memorandum of Understanding - OCSD
Memorandum of Understanding Addendum - OCSD
Ordinances amending the Orange County Zoning
Ordinance and the Orange County Subdivision
Regulations necessary to implement SAPFO
INFORMATION CONTACT:
John Link or Rod Visser, ext. 2300
Craig N. Benedict, ext. 2592
Geof Gledhill, 732-2196
TELEPHONE NUMBERS:
Hillsborough
Chapel Hill
Durham
Mebane
732-8181
968-4501
688-7331
(336)227-2031
PURPOSE: To consider adoption of the revised Schools Adequate Public Facilities Memoranaa of
Understanding (MOUs) and ordinance. Two MOU agreements are attached -one pertaining to the
Chapel Hill-Carrboro School District (CHCSD), and one pertaining to the Orange County School
District (OCSD).
BACKGROUND:
The Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) adopted a previous version on December 10, 2002.
Changes in the Certificate of Adequate Public Schools (CAPS) issuance process have been made
in the MOU since that time. Enclosure 1 explains the minor changes. A post December MOU
addendum has been added to the Chapel Hill Carrboro School District (similar to the one in the
Orange County School District for the middle school) to temporarily suspend the adequacy test for
the high school.
History:
For the past several years, the governing boards of the County, Towns and school systems as well
as the Schools and Land Use Councils have been discussing and developing the consensus,
research and regulatory framework necessary to adopt a School Adequate Public Facilities system.
As noted in the MOU, this process reflects the recognition of the need to work together to ensure
that new growth within the County's two school districts occurs at a pace that allows Orange County
and the school districts to provide adequate school facilities to serve the children within new
developments. It is also important to continue to maintain a Capital Investment Plan (CIP) that is
financially feasible and synchronized with historical residential growth patterns.
The Board reviewed and discussed a wide range of documents related to school adequate public
facilities at their October 21, 2002 work session, and again at the October 30, 2002 meeting of the
2
Assembly of Governments. The Board further discussed schools adequate public facilities at the
November 19, 2002 meeting and then gave approval of the MOUs at the December 10, 2002
meeting. The Planning Board had previously recommended approval of the MOU and model
ordinance on May 1, 2002.
Recent Activity:
Since December, 2002, respective staffs have been working with Schools APFO partners to
specifically address three issues within the Chapel Hill/Carrboro School District. Previously within
the Orange County School District the Middle School Level of Service overcapacity situation was
addressed by a temporary suspension of the Certificate of Adequate Public Schools (CAPS)
adequacy test. What follows is, therefore, specific to a few unresolved issues in the Chapel
Hill/Carrboro School District.
1. Chapel Hill/Carrboro School District's Middle School projected Level of Service
overcrowding in later years;
2. Chapel Hill/Carrboro School District's High School projected Level of Service
overcrowding in early years;
3. The mechanics of the CAPS system.
Resolution:
Item 1 was resolved by a Board of County Commissioners letter of April 29, 2003 of long-term
commitment and fiscally prudent process to funding school facilities.
Item 2 was recommended to be resolved by temporary suspension of the Certificate of Adequate
Public Schools adequacy at the High School level (similar to the Orange County School District
Middle School). (See Addendum Al and A2)
Item 3 was addressed by rewording to the Memorandum of Understanding and Schools APFO.
(See Enclosure 1)
Scheduled Adoptions:
All local governments are scheduling adoption of the MOU and ordinances as follows:
Chapel Hill -June 23, 2003,
Carrboro -June 24, 2003,
Orange County -June 26, 2003, and
Hillsborough -July 13, 2003.
Chapel Hill-Carrboro Board of Education - to be determined
Orange County Board of Education - to be determined
The school districts are in the process of scheduling the revised MOU but do not have to adopt an
ordinance. The status of what version they have approved is being researched.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact directly associated with this discussion.
However, decisions that the BOCC and Schools APFO partners will make regarding possible
implementation of the MOU and Ordinance will have a profound impact on the need for and timing
of future school construction in both school districts in Orange County.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Administration recommends that the Board approve the respective
Memorandums of Understanding for the Chapel Hill-Carrboro School District and Orange County
School District and adopt the ordinance necessary to implement Schools APFO with an effective
date as the Board decides.
MARGARET W. BROWN, CHAIR ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ALICE M. GORDON, I~/CE CHAR POST OFFICE BOX 81 81
MOSES CAREY, JR.
STEPHEN H.!-/AUaorrs 200 SOUTH CAMERON STREET
BARRYJACOBS
HILLSBOROUGH, NORTH CAROLINA 27278
MEMORANDUM
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TO: The Orange County Board of Commissioners
The Honorable Mike Nelson, Mayor, Town of Carrboro and Board of
Aldermen
The Honorable Kevin Foy, Mayor, Town of Chapel Hill and Chapel Hill
Town Council
The Honorable Valerie Foushee, Chair, Chapel Hill-Carrboro Board of
Education and Board Members
The Honorable Joe Phelps, Mayor, Town of Hillsborough and Board of
Commissioners
The Honorable Brenda Stephens, Chair, Orange County Board of
Education and Board Members
FROM: Margaret Brown, Chair, Orange County Board of Commissioners
DATE: June 16 2003
SUBJECT: Schools Adequate Public Facilities Memorandum of Understanding and
Ordinance (JUNE 2003 REVISED)
COPIES: Schools and Land Use Councils Members, School Facilities Task Force
Members, School Superintendents, County and Town Managers,
Attorneys, Planning Directors
On December 10, 2002 the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) unanimously
recommended approval and forwarding of the Schools Adequate Public Facilities Memorandum
of Understanding (MOU) and model Ordinance (Schools APFO) to the respective local
governments and school boards. There have been a few revisions since then, prepared by a
group of Planning Directors, Attorneys, School Representatives (PDASR), to address recent
issues (since late February of this year), which are explained herein. The four-year process of
developing these documents has been an important and progressive collaboration of many
parties to create a policy and ordinance that will help maintain the high quality of education that
serves as a linchpin to the quality of life in Orange County.
The amendments are minor and an item by item annotation of these changes are enclosed.
(See Enclosure No. 1 entitled "Explanation of Revisions to the Schools Adequate Public
Facilities Memorandum of Understanding and Ordinance" from the June 4, 2003 Planning
Directors, Attorneys, School Representatives work group)
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Amendments
Over the past eight months, these two documents were amended from the earlier drafts of the
Schools and Land Use Councils (SLUG) (November 14, 2001 approval and February 8, 2002
transmittal) and the School Facilities Task Force (BETE). The amendments, drafted to address
comments from various public hearings, are summarized below.
Some recent comments that were previously addendums are now incorporated into the
Memorandum of Understanding or were resolved by a previously sent letter of explanation (i.e.,
long range school CIP commitments letter of April 29, 2003). Certain changes affect both
district's MOU's and some are specific to the district.
1. Permit a more extensive review process when evaluating updated School APFO
elements each year (both district MOU's).
2. Additional emphasis on CIP development (both district's MOUs).
3. `Suspension' of adequacy test (for Certificate of Adequate Public Schools [CAPS]) at
Orange County Middle School level until new Middle School opens (GIP planned for
2005-06) (Orange County School District only).
4. `Suspension' of adequacy test (for Certificate of Adequate Public Schools (CAPS]) at
Chapel Hill/Carrboro High School level until new High School opens (GIP planned for
2006-07) (Chapel Hill/Carrboro School District only).
5. Clarification of the historical membership projections that are used in the CIP process
and housing development Student Generation Rates projections that are used in the
CAPS system.
Transmittal of Documents
Accompanying this memorandum are the following documents:
1. Schools Adequate Public Facilities Memorandum of Understanding and Model
Ordinance (Revised by County Attorney after PSASR workgroup collaboration on 6/4/03
(Attachment A -base MOU and Ordinance]
Amended by addendum (attachments A 1 and A2 below)
~Aftachment Al -applies to the Chapel Hill/Carrboro School District Area)
(Attachment A2 -applies to the Orange County School District Area)
The MOU includes all of the general understandings used in the proposed implementing model
ordinance (Schools APFO). There are three base and four annual elements of the MOU that
need to be accepted prior to ordinance adoption to provide the technical basis and resulting
methodology for the Schools APFO system. These elements are listed in Section 1 b and 1 c of
the MOU and were likely previously approved by the various parties.
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Adoption and Implementation
There are only minor changes to the Schools Adequate Public Facilities MOU and model
ordinance documents. The approval process may or may not include an additional public
hearing and adoption meeting for the actual ordinance by local governments (but local
governments may process these new amendments accordingly). The MOU minor changes and
implementing ordinance can be evaluated in one process, since it is anticipated that the MOU
could be approved with the chosen seven elements (in Section 1 b and 1 c) prior to or together
with the adoption of the ordinance. It is suggested that the time for implementing the ordinance
be July 15, 2003. This time frame would allow time for the necessary preliminary work and
approvals. All parties, to my knowledge, are working these amendments into their agenda
schedule prior to that time.
Craig Benedict, Orange County Planning and Inspections Director (and one of the PDASR work
group team members that included your attorney and planning director or other representative),
is available to meet with you or your board to answer questions as the public hearing and
adoption process continues. They can also explain the ongoing preliminary work necessary for
implementation.
Conclusion
The preparation of the Schools Adequate Public Facilities MOU and model Ordinance
represents a major effort of many elected officials, contributing boards, committees, and work
groups. There have been many benefits already from improved data standardization,
collection, and reporting and from cooperative planning and discussion among all the parties.
The proposed ordinance can help us ensure that our school construction keeps pace with our
rapid growth, so that our children can be educated in facilities that truly meet their needs.
Excellent schools are essential elements of our quality of life here in Orange County.
Thank you very much for your consideration of the Memorandum of Understanding and Schools
Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance.
Please respond with any concerns or questions to me at (919) 929-6460 or Craig Benedict,
Orange County Planning Director at (919) 245-2592.
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Protecting and preserving -People, Resources, Quality of Life
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(919) 245-2130 • FAX (919) 644-0246
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LAW OFFICES
COLEMAN, GLEDHILL, HARGRAVE & PEEK
A PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION
129 E. TRYON STREET
P. O. DRAWER 1529
HILLSBOROUGH, NORTH CAROLINA 27278
919.732-2196
FAX 919-732.7997
www.cgandh.com
June 25, 2003
Margaret Brown, Chair
Moses Carey, Jr.
Alice M. Gordon
Stephen Halkiotis
Barry Jacobs
Orange County Board of Commissioners
Post Office Box 8181
Hillsborough, North Carolina 27278
FROM THE DESK OF
GEOFFREY E. GLEDHILL
E-MAIL: geoffreygledhill@cgandh.com
R8: Schools Adequate Public Facilities Implementation
Dear Board Members:
At your meeting tomorrow night you will consider approving
revised memoranda and associated addenda as part of the Schools
Adequate Public Facilities program in both the Chapel Hill-
Carrboro City School District and the Orange County School
District. You also will consider approving amendments to the
Orange County Zoning Ordinance and the Orange County Subdivision
Regulations which will implement the Schools Adequate Public
Facilities program in Orange County's planning jurisdiction. The
Orange County land use ordinance amendments implement the
Schools Adequate Public Facilities program by creating two
overlay districts, one for the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City School
District, the other for the Orange County School District. The
administration recommendation is for approval of the MOUs, the
addenda to the MOUs and the ordinances. There is no
administration recommendation with respect to the effective date
of the ordinances.
7
Orange County Board of Commissioners
Page 2
June 25, 2003
At a recent staff and attorney work group meeting attended
by representatives of all of the local governments with planning
jurisdiction but not attended by representatives of the boards
of education, a "plan" was made that would permit all parties to
the MOUs to approve them and approve the corresponding land use
ordinances on or before July 15. With that in mind, it was
planned that the enabling ordinances would be effective July 15,
2003. However, making the County ordinances effective July 15,
2003 assumes that the other government approvals will occur.
Because of meeting schedules, it will not be possible for Orange
County to be the last to act on the Schools Adequate Public
Facilities program. And, because of the Board of Commissioners'
summer meeting recess, it will not be possible for the Board of
Commissioners to respond to actions of other governments between
June 26, 2003 and your first meeting in August 2003.
Because of this and because of the more important reason
discussed below, I recommend that the effective date for the
County ordinances be as follows:
This ordinance shall become effective on the date that an
MOU has been executed by all of Carrboro, Chapel Hill, the
Chapel Hill-Carrboro Board of Education, Hillsborough, the
Orange County Board of Education and Orange County.
Over the years that the Schools Adequate Public Facilities
program has been discussed, the idea of having this program in
one school district and not the other has also been discussed
from time to time. It is possible to implement SAPFO in one
school district without implementing it in the other in as much
as the County has the power to create in its ordinances an
overlay district that covers only one of the school districts.
However, it is my opinion that to do so with the Schools
Adequate Public Facilities program is ill advised.
As you know, Orange County and its towns and school
districts are on the "cutting edge" in developing a
comprehensive Schools Adequate Public Facilities program. Any
action by the governments which creates SAPFO in one school
district and not the other, in my opinion, increases
unnecessarily the risk of a challenge to the Adequate Public
Schools Facilities concept and increases the risk that that
Orange County Board of Commissioners
Page 3
June 25, 2003
challenge would be successful. The most likely challenge would
come from a developer in the school district where Schools
Adequate Public Facilities is in effect who is denied a CAPS.
The essence of the claim would be that developers that are not
in the school district where CAPS is in place can develop
without the restraint of CAPS and that that is unfair and that
there is no rational basis for having a Schools Adequate Public
Facilities program in one school district of the County and not
in the other school district. Another possible source of
complaint, both political and legal, would be from parents of
children in the school district where there is no Schools
Adequate Public Facilities program complaining that their school
system is being left behind in facilities because their school
system facilities are not driven by MOU and ordinance
requirements that the schools be built and that that
requirement, although not legally enforceable, is politically
enforceable insofar as the other governments participating in
the SAPFO-driven school construction program will bow out if
they determine that Orange County does not have the commitment
to fund schools as required by the MOU.
I know that you are looking forward to getting SAPFO
underway. I know also that school planning has already benefited
by the work that has been done in getting SAPFO to this point
and will continue to benefit thereafter and particularly after
the implementation of the Schools Adequate Public Facilities
Program. However, I urge you to proceed with the implementing
ordinances in Orange County's planning jurisdiction only when
all of the governments are on board.
Very truly yours,
GLEDHILL, HARGRAVE & PEEK, P.C.
frey ~. Gl~hill
GEG/lsg
xc: Craig Benedict
John M. Link, Jr.
lsg:letters\bdofcomschoolsadegpubfacimplementation.ltr
I
Enclosure #1
JUNE 4, 2003 AMENDMENTS
PLANNING DIRECTORS, ATTORNEYS, SCHOOL REPRESENTATIVES WORK
GROUP
EXPLANATION OF REVISIONS TO THE
SCHOOLS ADEQUATE PUBLIC FACILITIES
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING AND ORDINANCE
Prologue
The following amendments are a response to comments from recent public hearings. They are minor in
nature and do not affect the previous choreography of the Schools Adequate Public Facilities activities.
They instead offer clarity to the distinct aspects of: 1) the Capital Improvements Program (CIP) process
and their associated historically based membership projections, and 2) the Certificate of Adequate Public
Schools (CAPS) system and their associated housing development related Student Generation Rate (SGR)
projections.
In addition, some previously approved addendum clauses were incorporated into the original
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The suspension of the CAPS adequacy tests for the respective
school districts and school level are still addenda since they will sunset at the appropriate time.
What follows is an annotation of the proposed minor revisions.
Location Section Revisions
A Minor revision requested by the Town of Carrboro to enhance
1. Page 2 l.d. opportunity for governing boards to comment on student
membership growth rates, etc.
A clarification showing that November 1St" is the date for:
1) membership (actual),
2. Page 3 3.a. 2) school capacity, and
3) base date for future school projections and not February
15t" (see next note)
This old version tried to explain that the projections, membership
3.c. sere not February 15t" but calculations were done "(utilizing the
3. Page 4 (strikethrough previous November 15t" data)". This is made clearer in Item 2
old version) above.
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A new paragraph that describes what a "base year" is and how
November 15~' is the base of actual known capacity and
4. Page 4 3.b. membership. This base is then used for `launching' CIP
projections and resetting the CAPS system.
A clarification to reference specifically that the base year date of
5. Page 4 3.c. November 15~' is used for capacity calculations of future
additions, modifications, CIP capacity or closings.
This rewritten section sets up the initial year CAPS system
statistical platform. It also differentiates that separate from
aforementioned section 3.c. CIP capacity that there are CAPS
6. Page 4 3.d. calculations that are linked to housing development and the
student generation rate product which is accrued with each
housing project into the CAPS system.
This rewritten section furthers section 3.d. above that CAPS
development projections continue to be added to the base year
7. Page 5 3.e. and other housing programmed years. Each year these CAPS
projections are retained and added to the new updated actual
membership base.
Consistent with previous sections, the base date has been restated
8. Page 5 3.f. as November 15`t`.
A lead-in paragraph was added to explain the mathematical
exercise that is conducted during the CAPS system process.
Simply, Available ("Remaining") Capacity (AC) equals Capacity
9. Page Sz 3.g. (Existing Rated and Future CIP Capacity) minus Membership
(Existing and CAPS approved SGR membership). If AC is
greater than or equal to 0 then CAPS may be issued.
This additional paragraph was amended to all agreements to
10. Page 7 9 accent the importance of CIP process and program and municipal
governments' reliance on same to implement the Schools APFO.
Added a BOCC receipt and approval process for student
11. Various l.a., l.b., 3.a. membership and building capacity data from the school districts.
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Draft completed by Staff 6/4/03
Revised 6/23/03
Revised Format 6/24/03
SCHOOLS ADEQUATE PUBLIC FACILITIES
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
This Memorandum of Understanding is entered into this day of ,
200_, by and between the Town of Carrboro, the Town of Chapel Hill, the Chapel Hill-
Carrboro City Board of Education and Orange County (the "School District").
WHEREAS, the portion of Orange County, served by the Chapel Hill/Carrboro School
System has for the past decade been experiencing rapid growth in population; and
WHEREAS, this growth, and that which is anticipated, creates a demand for additional
school facilities to accommodate the children who reside within new developments; and
WHEREAS, the responsibility for planning for and constructing new school facilities lies
primarily with the Chapel Hill/Carrboro School Board, with funding provided by Orange
County; and
WHEREAS, Chapel Hill, Carrboro, Orange County and the Chapel Hill School District,
have recognized the need to work together to ensure that new growth within the School District
occurs at a pace that allows Orange County and the School District to provide adequate school
facilities to serve the children within such new developments;
WHEREAS, the parties have worked cooperatively and developed a system wherein
school facilities are currently adequate to meet the needs of the citizens of the county and will
continue to maintain a Capital Investment Plan (CIP) that is financially feasible and
synchronized with historical growth patterns;
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties to this Memorandum hereby agree as follows:
Section 1. The parties will work cooperatively to develop a realistic Capital Improvement
Plan for the construction of schools such that, from the effective date of this
Memorandum, school membership within each school level (i.e. elementary,
middle or high) does not exceed the following:
Elementary School 105% of Building Capacity
Middle School 107% of Building Capacity
High School 110% of Building Capacity
a. For purposes of this Memorandum, the term "school membership" means
the actual number of students attending school as of November 15 of each
year. The figure is determined by considering the number of students
enrolled (i.e. registered, regardless of whether a student is no longer
attending school) and making adjustments for withdrawals, dropouts,
deaths, retentions and promotions. Students who are merely absent from
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class on the date membership is determined as a result of sickness or some
other temporary reason are included in school membership figures. Each
year the School District shall transmit its school membership to the parties
to this agreement no later than five (5) school days after November 15.
Within tifteen~l5} School da~~s sifter receiving the school. me~ribership
calculations from the School Distr,ct the Board of County Commissioners
shall approve the School District's school membership calculations.
b. For purposes of this Memorandum, "building capacity" will be determined
by reference to State guidelines and the School District guidelines
(consistent with CIP School Construction Guidelines/policies developed
by the School District and the Board of County Commissioners) and will
be determined by a joint action of the School Board and the Orange
~~
County Board of Commissioners. As used herein the term building
capacity" refers to permanent buildings. Mobile classrooms and other
temporary student accommodating classroom spaces are not permanent
buildings and may not be counted in determining the school districts
building capacity. 'T'he School District shall transmit its building capacity
to the parties to this a~7reement ~~o later than five {j } school days after
~Iove~nber 15 Within f fteen { 1 ~} school days after receiving the building
capacity calculatio~is from the `school District the Board of C~c~unt`~
Commissioners shall approve the School District's buildin4~ capacity
calculations.
c. Prior to the adoption of the ordinances referenced in Section 2, the parties
shall reach agreement on the following:
(i) A Capital Improvement Program (CIP) that will achieve the
objectives of this Memorandum;
(ii) A projected growth rate for student membership within the School
District's three school levels during the ten year life of the CIP;
(iii) A methodology for determining the projected growth rate for
student membership; and
(iv) The number of students at each level expected to be generated by
each new housing type (i.e., the "student generation rate").
d. After the adoption of the ordinances referenced in Section 2, the Orange
County Board of Commissioners may change the projected student
membership growth rate, the methodology used to determine this rate, or
the student generation rate if the Board concludes that such a change is
necessary to predict growth more accurately. Before making any such
change, the Board shall receive and consider the recommendation of a
staff committee consisting of the planning directors of the Town(s) and the
County and a representative of the School District appointed by the
Superintendent. The committee shall provide, in a timely manner, a copy
of its recommendation to the governing boards of the other parties to this
memorandum at the time it provides such recommendation to the Board of
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Commissioners and the Board of Commissioners shall provide an
opportunity for those governing Boards to comment on the
recommendation.. In making its recommendation, the committee shall
consider the following, and in making its determination, the Board of
Commissioners shall consider the following:
(i) The accuracy of the methodology and projected growth rate then
in use in projecting school membership for the current school
year;
(ii) The accuracy of the student generation rate then in use in
predicting the number of students at each level actually generated
by each new housing type;
(iii) Approval of and issuance of CAPS for residential developments
that, individually or collectively, are of sufficient magnitude to
alter the previously agreed upon school membership growth
projections; or
(iv) Other trends and factors tending to alter the previously agreed
upon projected growth rates.
If any such change is made in the projected growth rate, the methodology
for determining this rate, or the student generation rate, the Orange County
Board of Commissioners shall inform the other parties to this
Memorandum prior to February 1St in any year in which such change is
intended to become effective what change was made and why it was
necessary.
e. The Orange County Board of Commissioners shall provide a copy of the
updated CIP to each of the parties to the Memorandum as soon as it is
revised, annually or otherwise.
Section 2. The towns and the county will adopt amendments to their respective ordinances,
conceptually similar to that attached hereto as Exhibit A, to coordinate the
approval of residential developments within the School District with the adequacy
of existing and proposed school facilities.
Section 3. The following process shall be followed by the School District to receive and take
action upon applications for Certificates of Adequacy of Public School Facilities
("CAPS") submitted by persons who are required by an implementing ordinance
conceptually similar to that attached as Exhibit A to have such certificates before
the development permission they have received from the town or county becomes
effective.
a. On ~-q3t~ November 15t" of each year, the School District shall
calculate the building capacity of each school level and the school
membership of each school level as of November 15t" of that
year. Also on November 15t" ~ of each year, the School
District shall calculate the ~~~~~~~~t°~pro,~ected building capacity for
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each school level and the ~..~:,.;~„+„a projected school membership for
each school level as of November 15th in each of the following ten years.
These calculations shall be made in accordance with the
c +• - , a ' a„r,.° • ,:+'~ ~'~~ provisions of Section. l.a and
Sectitm l,b. and alst~ in accc~rclat~ce with the remaining provisions of this
section.
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b On November 15tH of the year in which the calculation above is made,
projections) The twelve month period beginning on November 15"' of
the Xear in which the calculation is made and ending on November
14tH of the following vear is referred to as the "base vear."
c. .
~~ng Projections of school building_capacity as of November 15tH
in each of the ten years following the base vear shall be derived from
the following•
(i) A calculation of the existing building capacity within each school
level;
(ii) The anticipated opening date of schools under construction;
(iii) The anticipated opening date of schools on the ten-year CIP for
which funding has been committed by the Board of
Commissioners as a result of an approved bond issue, an approved
installment purchase agreement, or otherwise; and
(iv) The anticipated closing dates of any schools within the School
District.
d. In the first vear in which the ordinance adopted uursuant to this
Memorandum becomes effective, school membership figures as of
November 15tH in each of the succeeding ten years shall initially be
assumed to be the same school membership figures as are determined
for the base vear As CAPS are issued during the base vear, school
membership figures for the base vear and succeeding years shall be
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modified to reflect the additional students from the developments for
which CAPS are issued.
e On each November 15th following the first year in which the
nrrlinance ad~nted pursuant to this Memorandum becomes
school membership figures as of November 15"` in each of the
succeeding ten years shall be determined by adding to the school
membership figures for the base year the number of students
projected to be added to the schools in each successive year by
developments for which CAPS have been issued in accordance with
this section.
f. When an application for a CAPS is submitted, the School District shall
determine the impact on school membership for each school level as
~t°„t„*~a °~ ~°'~m~ -~~' `th of November 15th in each year of the period
during which the development is expected to be adding new students to
the school system as the result of such new construction. In making this
determination, the School District shall rely upon the figures established
under Section 1 of this Memorandum as to the number of students at each
level expected to be generated by each housing type, and data furnished by
the applicable planning department as to the expected rate at which new
dwellings within developments similar in size and type to the proposed
development are likely to be occupied. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if,
upon request of the applicant, the planning jurisdiction approving the
development imposes enforceable conditions upon the development (such
as a phasing schedule) to limit the rate at which new dwellings within the
development are expected to be occupied, then the School District shall
take such limitations into account in determining the impact of the
development on school membership.
accordance with subsection 3.f aboveL The School District shall. make
that nf~~nnatic>n known to the p:zl~ties to this agreement within 1 ~ days of
the comparison. If the School District determines that the projected
remaining capacity of each school level is sufficient to accommodate the
proposed development without exceeding the building capacity levels set
forth in Section 1 of this Memorandum then the School District shall issue
IICOLEMANPDCISHAREDILisalorangecountylmou for chccs cb version with geg chgs.doc
building capacity numbers for each of those years the student
membership numbers for each of those years. The results shall then
he c~mnared with the number of students expected to be added to
Ib
the CAPS. If the School District determines that the projected capacity of
each school level is not sufficient to accommodate the proposed
development without exceeding the building capacity levels set forth in
Section 1, then the School District shall deny the CAPS. If a CAPS is
denied, the applicant may seek approval from the appropriate planning
jurisdiction of such modifications to the development as will allow for the
issuance of a CAPS, and then reapply for a CAPS.
h. 'The School District shall issue CAPS on a "first come first served" basis,
according to the date a completed application for a CAPS is received. If
projected building capacity is not available and an application for a CAPS
is therefore denied, the development retains its priority in line based upon
the CAPS application date.
Section 4. A CAPS issued in connection with approval of a subdivision preliminary plat,
minor subdivision final plat, site plan, or conditional or special use permit shall
expire automatically upon the expiration of such plat, :plan, or permit approval.
Section 5. The towns and the county will provide to the School District all information
reasonably requested by the School District to assist the District in making its
determination as to whether the CAPS should be issued.
Section 6. The School District will, use its best efforts to construct new schools and
permanent expansions or additions to existing schools in accordance with the CIP.
Section 7. Orange County will use its best efforts to provide the funding to carry out the
Capital Improvement Plan referenced in Section 1 above.
Section 8. In recognition of the fact that some new development will have a negligible
impact on school capacity, a CAPS shall not be required under the following
circumstances:
a. For residential developments restricted by law and/or covenant for a
period of at least thirty years to housing for the elderly and/or adult care
living and/or adult special needs;
b. For residential developments restricted for a period of at least thirty years
to dormitory housing for university students.
If the use of a development restricted as provided above changes, then before a
permit authorizing such change of use becomes effective, a CAPS must be issued
just as if the development were being constructed initially.
Section 9. The parties acknowledge that this Memorandum of Understanding is not intended
to and does not create legally binding obligations on any of the parties to act in
accordance with its provisions. Rather, it constitutes a good faith statement of the
intent of the parties to cooperate in a manner designed to meet the mutual
objective of all the parties that the children who reside within the School District
are able to attend school levels that satisfy the level of service standards set forth
herein.
IICOLEMANPDCISHAREDILisalorangecountylmou for chccs cb version with geg chgs.doc 6
l -]
The Town of Carrboro and the Town of Chapel Hill intend to remain
committed to the MOU only as long as Orange County continues to execute
the CIP as agreed in the MOU If the Carrboro Board of Aldermen finds
Orange County is no longer in compliance with the CIP as outlined in the
MOU, the Town of Carrboro will no longer consider itself bound by this
MOU and may, consider repealing the Ordinance referenced in Section 2 of
this MOU If the Chapel Hill Town Council fmds Orange County is no longer
in compliance with the CIP as outlined in the MOU, the Town of Chapel Hill
will no longer consider itself bound by this MOU and may consider repealing
the Ordinance referenced in Section 2 of this MOU.
This the day of , 20
SEAL
Attest:
Town Clerk
SEAL
Attest:
Town Clerk
SEAL
TOWN OF CARRBORO
By:
Mayor
TOWN OF CHAPEL HILL
By:
Mayor
THE CHAPEL HILL-CARRBORO
BOARD OF EDUCATION
By:
Chair
Attest:
Secretary
IICOLEMANPDCISHAREDILisaloranaecountvlmou for chccs cb version with geg chgs.doc
!$
ORANGE COUNTY
SEAL
By:
Chair, Board of Commissioners
Attest:
Clerk to the Board of Commissioners
lsg:orangecounty~mou for chccs cb version with geg chgs.doc
IICOLEMANPDCISHAREDILisaloranaecountvlmou for chccs cb version with Aeq chAS.doc
Draft completed by Staff 6-04-03
Exhibit A
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING [ORANGE COUNTY DEVELOPMENT
ORDINANCES] TO REQUIRE THAT THE ADEQUACY OF PUBLIC
SCHOOL FACILITIES TO ACCOMMODATE NEW DEVELOPMENT
BE CONSIDERED IN THE APPROVAL PROCESS
WHEREAS, the portion of Orange County served by the Chapel Hill-Carrboro
City school system and the Orange County school system, have for the past decade been
experiencing rapid growth in population; and
WHEREAS, this rapid growth, and that which is anticipated, creates a demand for
additional school facilities to accommodate the children who reside within new
developments; and
WHEREAS, the responsibility for planning for and constructing new school
facilities lies primarily with the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Board of Education and the
Orange County Board of Education, with funding provided by Orange County; and
WHEREAS, Carrboro, Chapel Hill, the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Board of
Education and Orange County on the one hand and Hillsborough, the Orange County
Board of Education and Orange County on the other hand have recognized the need to
work together to ensure that new growth within the School Districts occur at a pace that
allows Orange County and the School Districts to provide adequate school facilities to
serve the children within such new developments; and
WHEREAS, to implement the Memoranda of Understanding among Carrboro,
Chapel Hill, the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Board of Education and Orange County and
among Hillsborough, the Orange County Board of Education and Orange County, the
of _ desires to provide a mechanism to assure
that, to the extent possible, new development will take place only when there are
adequate public school facilities available, or planned, which will accommodate such
new development;
NOW THEREFORE,
ORDAINS:
Section 1. Section of the Ordinance is amended by
adding a new to read as follows:
ADEQUATE PUBLIC SCHOOL FACILITIES
1. Purpose.
The purpose of this ordinance is to ensure that, to the maximum extent practical, approval
of new residential development will become effective only when it can reasonably be
1
Draft completed by Staff 6-04-03
expected that adequate public school facilities will be available to accommodate such
new development.
[The Chapel Hill-Carrboro School District and the Orange County School District are
each declared an overlay district in order to implement Schools Adequate Public
Facilities as prescribed in this [article]. Within the Chapel Hill-C'arrboro School District
Overlay District and within the Orange County School District Overlay District,
provisions of the Orange County Zoning Ordinance and Orange County Subdivision
Regulations which implement the Schools Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance are
applicable.]
2. Certificate of Adequacy of Public Schools Facilities.
(a) Subject to the remaining provisions of this [article], no approval under this
ordinance of a subdivision preliminary plat, minor subdivision final plat, site plan, or
conditional or special use permit for a residential development shall become effective
unless and until a Certificate of Adequacy of Public Schools Facilities (CAPS) for the
project has been issued by the School District.
(b) A CAPS shall not be required for a general use or conditional use rezoning or for
a master land use plan. However, even if a rezoning or master plan is approved, a CAPS
will nevertheless be required before any of the permits or approvals identified in
subsection (a) of this section shall become effective, and the rezoning of the property or
approval of a master plan provides no indication as to whether the CAPS will be issued.
The application for rezoning or master plan approval shall contain a statement to this
effect.
(c) A CAPS must be obtained from the School District. The School District will
issue or deny a CAPS in accordance with the provisions of the Memorandum of
Understanding among [Carrboro, Chapel Hill, the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Board of
Education and Orange County dated or among Hillsborough, the Orange
County Board of Education and Orange County dated _.]
(d) A CAPS attaches to the land in the same way that development permission
attaches to the land. A CAPS may be transferred along with other interests in the
property with respect to which such CAPS is issued, but may not be severed or
transferred separately.
3. Service Levels.
(a) This section describes the service levels regarded as adequate by the parties to the
Memorandum of Understanding described in subsection (b) with respect to public school
facilities.
(b) As provided in the Memoranda of Understanding among [Carrboro, Chapel Hill,
the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Board of Education and Orange County and among
2
Draf* completed by Staff 6-04-03 ~ I
Hillsborough, the Orange County Board of Education and Orange County] (MOU or
MOUs), adequate service levels for public schools shall be deemed to exist with respect
to a proposed new residential development if, given the number of school age children
projected to reside in that development, and considering all the factors listed in the
MOUs, projected school membership for the elementary schools, the middle schools, and
the high school(s) within the [Chapel Hill-Carrboro City School District and within the
Orange County School District] does not exceed the following percentages of the
building capacities of each of the following three school levels:
Elementary School 105% of Building Capacity
Middle School 107% of Building Capacity
High School 110% of Building Capacity
jFor the period of time beginning the effective date of this ordinance and
terminating on the day on which the third middle school within the Orange County
School District is first attended by middle school students, the determination by the
Orange County School District that adequate service levels for public schools exist
shall be made as prescribed above but without regard to whether or not projected
capacity of the Middle School level exceeds 107% of Building Capacity. On and
after the day on which the third middle school within the Orange County School
District is first attended ~ middle school students, determination by the Orange
County School District that adequate service levels for public schools exist shall be
made only i~rojected capacity of each school level does not exceed the following:
Elementary School 105% of Building Capacity
Middle School 107% of Building Capacity
High School 110% of Building Capacity
For the period of time beginning the effective date of this ordinance and terminating
on the day on which the third high school within the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City
School District is first attended b~high school students, the determination by the
Chapel Hill-Carrboro City School District that adequate service levels for public
schools exist shall be made without regard to whether or not projected capacit~f
the High School level exceeds 110% of Building Capacity. On and after the dam
which the third high school within the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City School District is
first attended b~gh school students, determination by the Chapel Hill-Carrboro
City School District that adequate service levels for public schools exist shall be
made only if projected capacity of each school level does not exceed the following:
Elementary School 105% of Building Capacity
Middle School 107% of Building Capacity
High School 110% of Building Capacityl
For purposes of this ordinance, the terms "building capacity" and "school membership"
shall have the same meaning attributed in the MOUs.
as
Draft completed by Staff 6-04-03
4. Expiration of Certificates of Adequacy of Public Schools Facilities.
A CAPS issued in connection with approval of a subdivision preliminary plat,
minor subdivision final plat, site plan, or conditional or special use permit shall expire
automatically upon the expiration of such plat, plan, or permit approval.
5. Exemption From Certification Requirement for Development with Negligible
Student Generation Rates
In recognition of the fact that some new development will have a negligible
impact on school capacity, a CAPS shall not be required under the following
circumstances:
a. For residential developments restricted by law and/or covenant for
a period of at least thirty years to housing for the elderly and/or
adult care living and/or adult special needs;
b. For residential developments restricted for a period of at least
thirty years to dormitory housing for university students.
If the use. of a development restricted as provided above changes, then before a
permit authorizing such change of use becomes effective, a CAPS must be issued
just as if the development were being constructed initially.
6. Applicability to Previously Approved Projects and Projects Pending
Approval.
(a) Except as otherwise provided herein, the provisions of this ordinance shall only
apply to applications for approval of subdivision preliminary plats, minor subdivision
final plats, site plans and conditional or special use permits that are submitted for
approval after the effective date of this ordinance
(b) The provisions of this ordinance shall not apply to amendments to subdivision
preliminary plats, minor subdivision final plats, site plans, or special or conditional use
permit approvals issued prior to the effective date of this ordinance so long as the
approvals have not expired and the proposed amendments do not increase the number of
dwelling units authorized within the development by more than five percent or five
dwelling units, whichever is less.
(c) The [Board of Commissioners] shall issue a special exception to the CAPS
requirement to an applicant whose application for approval of a subdivision preliminary
plat, minor subdivision final plat, site plan or conditional or special use permit covers
property within a planned unit development or master plan project that was approved
prior to the effective date of this ordinance, if the [Board of Commissioners] finds, after
an evidentiary hearing, that the applicant has (1) applied to the School District for a
CAPS and the application has been denied, (2) in good faith made substantial
4
Draft completed by Staff 6-04-03 a 3
expenditures or incurred substantial binding obligations in reasonable reliance on the
previously obtained planned unit development or master plan approval, and (3) would be
unreasonably prejudiced if development in accordance with the previously approved
development or plan is delayed due to the provisions of this ordinance. In deciding
whether these findings can be made, the [Board of Commissioners] shall consider the
following, among other relevant factors:
(1) Whether the developer has installed streets, utilities, or other facilities or
expended substantial sums in the planning and preparation for installation of such
facilities which were designed to serve or to be paid for in part by the
development of portions of the planned unit development or master planned
project that have not yet been approved for construction;
(2) Whether the developer has installed streets, utilities, or other facilities or
expended substantial sums in the planning and preparation for installation of such
facilities that directly benefit other properties outside the development in question
or the general public;
(3) Whether the developer has donated land to the School District for the
construction of school facilities or otherwise dedicated land or made
improvements deemed to benefit the School District and its public. school system;
(4) Whether the developer has had development approval for a substantial
amount of time and has in good faith worked to timely implement the plan in
reasonable reliance on the previously obtained approval;
(5) The duration of the delay that will occur until public school facilities are
improved or exist to such an extent that a CAPS can be issued for the project, and
the effect of such delay on the development and the developer.
(d) The decision of the [Board of Commissioners] involving a special exception
application under subsection (c) is subject to review by the Orange County Superior
Court by proceedings in the nature of certiorari. Any petition for review by the Superior
Court shall be filed with the Clerk of Superior Court within 30 days after a written copy
of the decision of the [Board of Commissioners] is delivered to the applicant and every
other party who has filed a written request for such copy with the Clerk to the Board of
Commissioners at the time of its hearing on the application for a special exception. The
written copy of the decision of the [Board of Commissioners] may be delivered either by
personal service or by certified mail, return receipt requested.
(e) The chair of the [Board of Commissioners] or any member temporarily acting as
chair may, in his or her official capacity, administer oaths to witnesses in any hearing
before the [Board of Commissioners] concerning a special exception or an appeal of
School District denial of a CAPS.
5
Draft completed by Staff 6-04-03 °~
7. Appeal of School District Denial of a CAPS.
The applicant for a CAPS which is denied by the School District may, within 30
days of the date of the denial, appeal the denial to the [Board of Commissioners]. Any
such appeal shall be heard by the [Board of Commissioners] at an evidentiary hearing
before it. At this hearing the School District will present its reasons for the denial of the
CAPS and the evidence it relied on in denying the CAPS. The applicant appealing the
denial may present its reasons why the CAPS application should have, in its view, been
approved and the evidentiary basis it contends supports approval. The [Board of
Commissioners] may (1) affirm the decision of the School District, (2) remand to the
School District for further proceedings in the event evidence is presented at the hearing
before the [Board of Commissioners] not brought before the School District, or (3) issue
a CAPS. The [Board of Commissioners] will only issue a CAPS if it finds that the CAPS
should have been issued by the School District as prescribed in the MOU. A decision of
the [Board of Commissioners] affirming the School District may be appealed by the
applicant for a CAPS by proceedings in the nature of certiorari and as prescribed for an
appeal under Sections 6(d) and 6(e) of this ordinance.
8. Information Required From Applicants.
The applicant fora CAPS shall submit to the School District all information
reasonably deemed necessary by the School District to determine whether a CAPS should
be issued under the provisions of the MOU. An applicant for a CAPS special exception
or an applicant appealing a CAPS denial by the School District shall submit to the Board
of Commissioners all information reasonably deemed necessary by the Board of
Commissioners to determine whether a special exception should be granted as provided
in Section 6(d) of this ordinance or for the hearing of an appeal of a School District
denial of a CAPS as provided in Section 7 of this ordinance. A copy of a request for a
CAPS special exception or of an appeal of a School District denial of a CAPS shall be
served on the superintendent of the School District. Service may be made by personal
delivery or certified mail, return receipt requested.
Section 2. This ordinance shall become effective
The foregoing ordinance, having been submitted to a vote, received the following vote
and was duly adopted this day of , 200_.
Ayes:
Noes:
Absent or Excused:
isg:orangecounty\sapfo ord rev 6-23-03
Draft completed by Staff 6/4/03
Revised 6/23/03
ADDENDUM TO
SCHOOLS ADEQUATE PUBLIC FACILITIES
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
This Addendum to the Schools Adequate Public Facilities Memorandum of
Understanding is entered into this day of , 20 , by and among the Town of
Carrboro, the Town of Chapel Hill, the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Board of Education and
Orange County.
WHEREAS, school membership within the high school level in the Chapel Hill-Carrboro
City School District for the 2004-2005 school year is projected to exceed 110% of building
capacity; and
WHEREAS, a third high school for the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City School District is in
the planning stage, on the Orange County 10-year CIP and funding is expected to be committed
to the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Board of Education capital expense fund for this school by
Orange County as a result of a combination of bond money, installment financing, impact fees
and "pay-as-you-go" CIP revenue; and
WHEREAS, it is anticipated that the third high school in the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City
School District will be completed and high school students will begin attending this
school when the 2006-2007 school year begins; and
WHEREAS, it is in the interest of the parties to the Schools Adequate Public Facilities
Memorandum of Understanding among the Town of Carrboro, the Town of Chapel Hill, the
Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Board of Education and Orange County (hereinafter "the MOU") and
to the citizens of Orange County that the Schools Adequate Public Facilities Program be
implemented for the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City School District in 2003 in tandem with the
implementation of the Program for the Orange County School District;
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties to this Addendum to the MOU and to the MOU hereby
agree that Section 3.g. of the MOU is amended by deleting Section 3.g. and replacing it with the
following:
Section 3.
g. The School District shall determine the amount of available capacity in
each school level as of November 15th in the base year and each
November 15th of the succeeding ten years by subtracting from the
building capacity numbers for each of those years the student membership
numbers for each of those years. The results shall then be compared with
the number of students expected to be added to each school level as of
November 15th in each year (as determined in accordance with subsection
3.f above). The School District shall. make that information known to the
parties to this agreement within l ~ days of the comparison. If the School
District determines that the projected remaining capacity of each school
Draft completed by Staff 6/4/03
Revised 6/23/03
level is sufficient to accomr.~odate the proposed development without
exceeding the building capacity levels set forth in Section 1 of this
Memorandum then the School District shall issue the CAPS. If the School
District determines that the projected capacity of each school level is not
sufficient to accommodate the proposed development without exceeding
the building capacity levels set forth in Section 1, then the School District
shall deny the CAPS. If a CAPS is denied, the applicant may seek
approval from the appropriate planning jurisdiction of such modifications
to the development as will allow for the issuance of a CAPS, and then
reapply for a CAPS.
For the period of time beginning the effective date of the ordinances
referred to in Section 2 of this MOU and terminating on the day on which
the third high school within the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City School District
is first attended by high school students, the determination by the Chapel
Hill-Carrboro City School District that adequate service levels for public
schools exist shall be made without regard to whether or not school
membership within the High School level exceeds 110% of Building
Capacity. On and after the day on which the third high school within the
Chapel Hill-Carrboro City School District is first attended by high school
students, determination by the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City School District
that adequate service levels for public schools exist shall be made only if
school membership within each school level does not exceed the
following:
Elementary School 105% of Building Capacity
Middle School 107% of Building Capacity
High School 110% of Building Capacity
This the
SEAL
Attest:
Town Clerk
SEAL
day of , 20
By:
TOWN OF CARRBORO
Mayor
TOWN OF CHAPEL HILL
Mayor
By:
~D
Draft completed by Staff 6/4/03 ~~
Revised 6/23%03
Attest:
Town Clerk
SEAL
THE CHAPEL HILL-CARRBORO
CITY BOARD OF EDUCATION
By:
Chair
ATTEST:
Secretary
SEAL
Attest:
Clerk to the Board of Commissioners
ORANGE COUNTY
Chair, Board of Commissioners
By:
1sg:otangecounty~IVIOU addendum chccs high school 6-23-03.doc
aS
Draft completed by Staff 6/4/03
Revised 6/23/03
Revised Format 6/24/03
SCHOOLS ADEQUATE PUBLIC FACILITIES
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
This Memorandum of Understanding is entered into this day of ,
200_, by and between the Town of Hillsborough, the Orange County Board of Education and
Orange County (the "School District").
WHEREAS, the portion of Orange County, served by the Orange County School System
has for the past decade been experiencing rapid growth in population; and
WHEREAS, this growth, and that which is anticipated, creates a demand for additional
school facilities to accommodate the children who reside within new developments; and
WHEREAS, the responsibility for planning for and constructing new school facilities lies
primarily with the Orange County School Board, with funding provided by Orange County; and
WHEREAS, Orange County, Hillsborough, and the Orange County School District, have
recognized the need to work together to ensure that new growth within the School District occurs
at a pace that allows Orange County and the School District to provide adequate school facilities
to serve the children within such new developments;
WHEREAS, the parties have worked cooperatively and developed a system wherein
school facilities are currently adequate to meet the needs of the citizens of the county and will
continue to maintain a Capital Investment Plan (CIP) that is financially feasible and
synchronized with historical growth patterns;
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties to this Memorandum hereby agree as follows:
Section 1. The parties will work cooperatively to develop a realistic Capital Improvement
Plan for the construction of schools such that, from the effective date of this
Memorandum, school membership within each school level (i.e. elementary,
middle or high) does not exceed the following:
Elementary School 105% of Building Capacity
Middle School 107% of Building Capacity
High School 110% of Building Capacity
a. For purposes of this Memorandum, the term '"school membership" means
the actual number of students attending school. as of November 15 of each
year. The figure is determined by considering the number of students
enrolled (i.e. registered, regardless of whether a student is no longer
attending school) and making adjustments for withdrawals, dropouts,
deaths, retentions and promotions. Students who are merely absent from
class on the date membership is determined as a result of sickness or some
F:ILisalorangecountylmou for oc bd of educ cb version with geg chgs.doc
a~
other temporary reason are included in school membership figures. Each
year the School District shall transmit its school membership to the parties
to this agreement no later than five (5) school days after November 15.
~'~'ithin fifteen (1.5~ school days after receiving_the school membership
calculations from tre Schoc>1 District, the Board of County CVe~minissioners
shall approve the School District's school membership calculations.
b. For purposes of this Memorandum, "building capacity" will be determined
by reference to State guidelines and the School District guidelines
(consistent with CIP School Construction Guidelines/policies developed
by the School District and the Board of County Commissioners) and will
be determined by a joint action of the School Board and the Orange
County Board of Commissioners. As used herein the term "building
capacity" refers to permanent buildings. Mobile classrooms and other
temporary student accommodating classroom spaces are not permanent
buildings and may not be counted in determining the school districts
building capacity. The School District shall transmit its building~paeit~
to the parties to this agreement too later than five (5) school days after
November i 5. ~~'ithin fifteen (1) school da s a lter receivingthe building
capacity calculations from the School District the Board of County
Commissioners sh4G11 approve tl~~e School. District's building capacity
calculations.
c. Prior to the adoption of the ordinances referenced in Section 2, the parties
shall reach agreement on the following:
(i) A Capital Improvement Program (CIP) that will achieve the
objectives ofthis Memorandum;
(ii) A projected growth rate for student membership within the School
District's three school levels during the ten year life of the CIP;
(iii) A methodology for determining the projected growth rate for
student membership; and
(iv) The number of students at each level expected to be generated by
each new housing type (i.e., the "student generation rate").
d. After the adoption of the ordinances referenced in Section 2, the Orange
County Board of Commissioners may change the projected student
membership growth rate, the methodology used to determine this rate, or
the student generation rate if the Board concludes that such a change is
necessary to predict growth more accurately. Before making any such
change, the Board shall receive and consider the recommendation of a
staff committee consisting of the planning directors of the Town(s) and the
County and a representative of the School District appointed by the
Superintendent. The committee shall provide, in a timely manner, a copy
of its recommendation to the governing boards of the other parties to this
memorandum at the time it provides such recommendation to the Board of
Commissioners and the Board of Commissioners shall provide an
F:ILisalorangecountylmou for oc bd of educ cb version with geg chgs.doc 2
36
opportunity for those governing Boards to comment on the
recommendation.. In making its recommendation, the committee shall
consider the following, and in making its determination, the Board of
Commissioners shall consider the following:
(i) The accuracy of the methodology and projected growth rate then
in use in projecting school membership for the current school
year;
(ii) The accuracy of the student generation rate then in use in
predicting the number of students at each level actually generated
by each new housing type;
(iii) Approval of and issuance of CAPS for residential developments
that, individually or collectively, are of sufficient magnitude to
alter the previously agreed upon school membership growth
projections; or
(iv) Other trends and factors tending to alter the previously agreed
upon projected growth rates.
If any such change is made in the projected growth rate, the methodology
for determining this rate, or the student generation rate, the Orange County
Board of Commissioners shall inform the other parties to this
Memorandum prior to February 1 S` in any year in which such change is
intended to become effective what change was made and why it was
necessary.
e. The Orange County Board of Commissioners shall provide a copy of the
updated CIP to each of the parties to the Memorandum as soon as it is
revised, annually or otherwise.
Section 2. The towns and the county will adopt amendments to their respective ordinances,
conceptually similar to that attached hereto as Exhibit A, to coordinate the
approval of residential developments within the School District with the adequacy
of existing and proposed school facilities.
Section 3. The following process shall be followed by the School District to receive and take
action upon applications for Certificates of Adequacy of Public School Facilities
("CAPS") submitted by persons who are required by an implementing ordinance
conceptually similar to that attached as Exhibit A to have such certificates before
the development permission they have received from the town or county becomes
effective.
a. On Fe~a' November 15th of each year, the School District shall
calculate the building capacity of each school level and the school
membership of each school level as of November 15th of that
year. Also on November 15th a' of each year, the School
District shall calculate theiec~-projected building capacity for
each school level and the-gated-projected school membership for
FI!_isalorangecountylmou for oc bd of educ cb version with geg chgs.doc 3
3(
each school level as of November 15t" in each of the following ten years.
These calculations shall be made in accordance with the
r +• , a , ,.,.,,,.~,.° :.•:t'.: t'.:., previsions of See;tion l.a and
Section. 1.b. and also in accordar~~ e with the remaining provisions of this
section.
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b. On November_ 15t" of the year in which the calculation above is made
the school building capacity numbers and the school membership
numbers as of November 15`" of that year are known figures (i.e. not
pro,~ctions) The twelve month period beginning on November 15t" of
the Xear in which the calculation is made and ending on November
14t" of the followingyear is referred to as the "base e
C. Trn~~ree~-e-are~lla~iens~Erl~-v~~~--~vx~s3c~apvir chi
~~xg: Projections of school building capacity as of November 15t"
in each of the ten years following the base year shall be derived from
the following:
(i) A calculation of the existing building capacity within each school
level;
(ii) The anticipated opening date of schools under construction;
(iii) The anticipated opening date of schools on the ten-year CIP for
which funding has been committed by the Board of
Commissioners as a result of an approved bond issue, an approved
installment purchase agreement; or otherwise; and
(iv) The anticipated closing dates of any schools within the School
District.
d. In the first year in which the ordinance adopted pursuant to this
Memorandum becomes effective, school membership figures as of
November 15t" in each of the succeeding ten years shall initialler
assumed to be the same school membership figures as are determined
for the base year. As CAPS are issued during the base year, school
membership figures for the base year and succeeding years shall be
modified to reflect the additional students from the developments for.
which CAPS are issued.
F.•ILisalorangecountylmou for oc bd of educ cb version with geg chgs. doc q
3a
e On each November 15th following the first vear in which the
succeeding ten nears shall be determined by adding to the school
membership f~ures for the base vear the number of students
projected to be added to the schools in each successive vear by
developments for which CAPS have been issued in accordance with
this section.
f. When an application for a CAPS is submitted, the School District shall
determine the impact on school membership for each school level as
' °-•' ~*~-' °„ ~°'~-~~ ~-~ • ' nth of November 15t in each year of the period
during which the development is expected to be adding new students to
the school system as the result of such new construction. In making this
.determination, the School District shall rely upon the figures established
under Section I of this Memorandum as to the number of students at each
level expected to be generated by each housing type, and data furnished by
the applicable planning department as to the expected rate at which new
dwellings within developments similar in size and type to the proposed
development are likely to be occupied. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if,
upon request of the applicant, the planning jurisdiction approving the
development imposes enforceable conditions upon the development (such
as a phasing schedule) to limit the rate at which new dwellings within the
development are expected to be occupied, then the School District shall
take such limitations into account in determining the impact of the
development on school membership.
November 15`° of the succeeding ten years by subtracting from the
building capacity numbers for each of those years the student
membership numbers for each of those years. The results shall then
accordance with subsection 3.f above). The School District shall make
that information known to the parties to this agreement within l5 days of
the comparison. If the School District determines that the projected
remaining capacity of each school level is sufficient to accommodate the
proposed development without exceeding the building capacity levels set
forth in Section 1 of this Memorandum then the School District shall issue
the CAPS. If the School District determines that. the projected capacity of
each school level is not sufficient to accommodate the proposed
F:ILisalorangecountylmou for oc bd of educ cb version with geg chgs.doc
33
development without exceeding the building capacity levels set forth in
Section 1, then the School District shall deny the CAPS. If a CAPS is
denied, the applicant may seek approval from the appropriate planning
jurisdiction of such modifications to the development as will allow for the
issuance of a CAPS, and then reapply for a CAPS.
h. The School District shall issue CAPS on a "first come first served" basis,
according to the date a completed application for a CAPS is received. If
projected building capacity is not available and an application for a CAPS
is therefore denied, the development retains its priority in line based upon
the CAPS application date.
Section 4. A CAPS issued in connection with approval of a subdivision preliminary plat,
minor subdivision final plat, site plan, or conditional or special use permit shall
expire automatically upon the expiration of such plat, plan, or permit approval.
Section 5. The towns and the county will provide to the School District all information
reasonably requested by the School District to assist the District in making its
determination as to whether the CAPS should be issued.
Section 6. The School District will use its best efforts to construct new schools and
permanent expansions or additions to existing schools in accordance with the CIP.
Section 7. Orange County will use its best efforts to provide the funding to carry out the
Capital Improvement Plan referenced in Section 1 above.
Section 8. In recognition of the fact that some new development will have a negligible
impact on school capacity, a CAPS shall not be required under the following
circumstances:
a. For residential developments restricted by law and/or covenant for a
period of at least thirty years to housing for the elderly and/or adult care
living and/or adult special needs;
b. For residential developments restricted for a period of at least thirty years
to dormitory housing for university students.
If the use of a development restricted as provided above changes, then before a
permit authorizing such change of use becomes effective, a CAPS must be issued
just as if the development were being constructed initially.
Section 9. The parties acknowledge that this Memorandum of Understanding is not intended
to and does not create legally binding obligations on any of the parties to act in
accordance with its provisions. Rather, it constitutes a good faith statement of the
intent of the parties to cooperate in a manner designed to meet the mutual
objective of all the parties that the children who reside within the School District
are able to attend school levels that satisfy the level of service standards set forth
herein.
F:Ilisalorangecountylmou for oc bd of educ cb version with geg chgs.doc
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The Town of Hillsborough intends to remain committed to the MOU only as
long as Orange Countv continues to execute the CIP as agreed in the MOU.
If the Hillsborough Board of Commissioners fmds Orange County is no
longer in compliance with the CIP as outlined in the MOU, the Town of
Hillsborough will no longer consider itself bound by this MOU and may
consider resealing the Ordinance referenced in Section 2 of this MOU.
This the day of , 20
SEAL
Attest:
Town Clerk
SEAL
Attest:
Secretary
SEAL
Attest:
Clerk to the Board of Commissioners
lsg:orangecounty~nou for oc bd of educ cb version with geg chgs.doc
TOWN OF HILLSBOROUGH
By:
Mayor
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF
EDUCATION
By:
Chair
ORANGE COUNTY
By:
Chair, Board of Commissioners
F:ILisaloranpecountylmou for oc bd of educ cb version with geg chgs.doc '7
Draft completed by Staff 6/4/03 3
Revised 6/23/03
ADDENDUM TO
SCHOOLS ADEQUATE PUBLIC FACILITIES
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
This Addendum to the Schools Adequate Public Facilities Memorandum of
Understanding is entered into this day of , 20 , by and among the Town of
Hillsborough, the Orange County Board of Education and Orange County.
WHEREAS, school membership within the middle school level in the Orange County
School District for the 2002-2003 school year exceeds 107% of building capacity; and
WHEREAS, a third middle school for the Orange County School District is in the
planning stage, on the Orange County 10-year CIP and funding has been committed to the
Orange County Board of Education capital expense fund for this school by Orange County as a
result of an approved bond issue; and
WHEREAS, it is anticipated that the third middle school in the Orange County School
District will be completed and middle school students will begin attending this
school when the 2006-2007 school year begins; and
WHEREAS, it is in the interest of the parties to the Schools Adequate Public Facilities
Memorandum of Understanding among the Town of Hillsborough, the Orange County Board of
Education and Orange County (hereinafter "the MOU") and to the citizens of Orange County that
the Schools Adequate Public Facilities Program be implemented for the Orange County School
District in 2003 in tandem with the implementation of the Program for the Chapel Hill-Carrboro
City School District;
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties to this Addendum to the MOU and to the MOU hereby
agree that Section 3.g. of the MOU is amended by deleting Section 3.g. and replacing it with the
following:
Section 3.
g. The School District shall determine the amount of available capacity in
each school level as of November 15th in the base year and each
November 15th of the succeeding ten years by subtracting from the
building capacity numbers for each of those years the student membership
numbers for each of those years. The results shall then be compared with
the number of students expected to be added to each school level as of
November 15th in each year (as determined in accordance with subsection
3.f above). The School District sh~~11 make that information knoc~,rn to the
parties to this agreement within. l ~ days of the comparison. If the School
District determines that the projected remaining capacity of each school
level is sufficient to accommodate the proposed development without
exceeding the building capacity levels set forth in Section 1 of this
Memorandum then the School District shall issue the CAPS. If the School
Draft completed by Staff 6/4/03
Revised 6/23/03
District determines that the projected capacity of each school level is not
sufficient to accommodate the proposed development without exceeding
the building capacity levels set forth in Section 1, then the School District
shall deny the CAPS. If a CAPS is denied, the applicant may seek
approval from the appropriate planning jurisdiction of such modifications
to the development as will allow for the issuance of a CAPS, and then
reapply for a CAPS.
For the period of time beginning the effective date of the ordinances
referred to in Section 2 of this MOU and terminating on the day on which
the third middle school within the Orange County School District is first
attended by middle school students, the determination by the Orange
County School District that adequate service levels for public schools exist
shall be made without regard to whether or not school membership within
the Middle School level exceeds 107% of Building Capacity. On and after
the day on which the third middle school within the Orange County
School District is first attended by middle school students, determination
by the Orange County School District that adequate service levels for
public schools exist shall be made only if school membership within each
school level does not exceed the following:
Elementary School 105% of Building Capacity
Middle School 107% of Building Capacity
High School 110% of Building Capacity
This the
SEAL
Attest:
Town Clerk
SEAL
Attest:
day of , 20
By:
TOWN OF HILLSBOROUGH
Mayor
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF
EDUCATION
By:
Chair
Secretary
3l~
2
Draft completed by Staff 6/4/03 3
Revised 6/23/03
SEAL
ORANGE COUNTY
By:
Attest:
Clerk to the Board of Commissioners
Chair, Board of Commissioners
1sg:orangecounty~MOU addendum ocschools middle school 6-23-03.doc
Draft completed by Staff 6/04/03
Revised 6/25/03
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE ORANGE COUNTY ZONING
ORDINANCE TO REQUIRE THAT THE ADEQUACY OF PUBLIC SCHOOL
FACILITIES TO ACCOMMODATE NEW DEVELOPMENT BE CONSIDERED
IN THE APPROVAL PROCESS
WHEREAS, the portion of Orange County served by the Chapel Hill-Carrboro
City school system and the Orange County school system, have for the past decade been
experiencing rapid growth in population; and
WHEREAS, this rapid growth, and that which is anticipated, creates a demand for
additional school facilities to accommodate the children who reside within new
developments; and
WHEREAS, the responsibility for planning for and constructing new school
facilities lies primarily with the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Board of Education and the
Orange County Board of Education, with funding provided by Orange County; and
WHEREAS, Carrboro, Chapel Hill, the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Board of
Education and Orange County on the one hand and Hillsborough, the Orange County
Board of Education and Orange County on the other hand have recognized the need to
work together to ensure that new growth within the School Districts occurs at a pace that
allows Orange County and the School Districts to provide adequate school facilities to
serve the children within such new developments; and
WHEREAS, to implement the Memoranda of Understanding among Carrboro,
Chapel Hill, the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Board of Education and Orange County and
among Hillsborough, the Orange County Board of Education and Orange County, the
Board of Commissioners of Orange County desires to provide a mechanism to assure
that, to the extent possible, new development will take place only when there are
adequate public school facilities available, or planned, which will accommodate such
new development;
NOW THEREFORE, THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF
ORANGE COUNTY ORDAINS:
Section 1. The Orange County Zoning Ordinance is amended by creating a
new Article 15 to read as follows:
ARTICLE 15 [ARTICLE XV in the TABLE OF CONTENTS and in the DETAILED
TABLE OF CONTENTS]. SCHOOL ADEQUATE PUBLIC FACILITIES
15.1.1 Purpose
The purpose of this Article is to ensure that, to the maximum extent practical,
approval of new residential development will become effective only when it can
reasonably be expected that adequate public school facilities will be available to
accommodate such new development.
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15.1.2 Applicability
The provisions of this Article shall apply to the following areas: The entirety of
the County lying outside of the municipalities therein, outside of the extraterritorial
planning jurisdiction, if any, of the municipalities therein and also outside of the Joint
Planning Area Transition area, if any, of the municipalities therein.
The Chapel Hill-Carrboro School District and the Orange County School District
are each declared to be an overlay district in order to implement Schools Adequate Public
Facilities as prescribed in this Article. Within the Chapel Hill-Carrboro School District
Overlay District and within the Orange County School District Overlay District, the
provisions of this Article apply.
15.1.3-15.1.9 Reserved
15.2 Administration
15.2.1 Certificate of Adequacy of Public School Facilities.
(a) Subject to the remaining provisions of this Article, no approval of a site
plan, special use permit, a major subdivision preliminary plat or a minor subdivision final
plat for a residential development shall become effective unless and until a Certificate of
Adequacy of Public Schools Facilities (CAPS) for the project has been issued by the
School District.
(b) A CAPS shall not be required for a general use or special use rezoning or
for a master land use plan. However, even if a rezoning or master plan is approved, a
CAPS will nevertheless be required before any of the permits or approvals identified in
subsection (a) of this section shall become effective, and the rezoning of the property or
approval of a master plan provides no indication as to whether the CAPS will be issued.
The application for rezoning or master plan approval shall contain a statement to this
effect.
(c) A CAPS must be obtained from the School District. The School District
will issue or deny a CAPS in accordance with the provisions of the Schools Adequate
Public Facilities Memorandum of Understanding, as to the Chapel Hill-Carrboro School
District, between Carrboro, Chapel Hill, Orange County, and the Chapel Hill-Carrboro
City Board of Education and as to the Orange County School District, between
Hillsborough, Orange County and the Orange County Board of Education. These
Memoranda of Understanding are hereafter referred to as "the MOUs" or "the MOU" as
the context requires.
(d) A CAPS attaches to the land in the same way that development permission
attaches to the land. A CAPS may be transferred along with other interests in the
property with respect to which such CAPS is issued, but may not be severed or
transferred separately.
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15.2.2 Service Levels.
(a) This section describes the service levels regarded as adequate by the
parties to the MOUs with respect to public school facilities.
(b) As provided in the MOUs, adequate service levels for public schools shall
be deemed to exist with respect to a proposed new residential development if, given the
number of school age children projected to reside in that development, and considering
all the factors listed in the MOUs, projected school membership for the elementary
schools, the middle schools, and the high schools within the School District will not
exceed the following percentages of the building capacities of each of the following three
school levels:
elementary school level 105%
middle school level 107%
high school level 110%
For the period of time beginning the effective date of this Article and terminating on the
day on which the third high school within the Chapel Hill-Carrboro School District is
first attended by high school students, the determination by the Chapel Hill-Carrboro
School District that adequate service levels for public schools exist shall be made without
regard to whether or not projected capacity of the High School level exceeds 110% of
Building Capacity. On and after the day on which the third high school within the Chapel
Hill-Carrboro School District is first attended by high school students, determination by
the Chapel Hill-Carrboro School District that adequate service levels for public schools
exist shall be made only if projected capacity of each school level does not exceed the
following:
Elementary School 105% of Building Capacity
Middle School 107% of Building Capacity
High School 110% of Building Capacity
For the period of time beginning the effective date of this Article and terminating on the
day on which the third middle school within the Orange County School District is first
attended by middle school students, the determination by the Orange County School
District that adequate service levels for public schools exist shall be made without regard
to whether or not projected capacity of the Middle School level exceeds 107% of
Building Capacity. On and after the day on which the third middle school within the
Orange County School District is first attended by middle school students, determination
by the Orange County School District that adequate service levels for public schools exist
shall be made only if projected capacity of each school level does not exceed the
following:
Elementary School 105% of Building Capacity
Middle School 107% of Building Capacity
High School 110% of Building Capacity
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For purposes of this Article, the terms "building capacity" and "school membership" shall
have the same meaning attributed in the MOUs.
15.2.3 Expiration of Certificates of Adequacy of Public School Facilities.
A CAPS issued in connection with approval of a site plan, special use permit, a
major subdivision preliminary plat or a minor subdivision final plat shall expire
automatically upon the expiration of such permit approval.
15.2.4 Exemption From Certification Requirement for Development with
Negligible Student Generation Rates
In recognition of the fact that some new development will have a negligible
impact on school capacity, a CAPS shall not be required under the following
circumstances:
a. For residential developments restricted by law and/or covenant for a
period of at least thirty years to housing for the elderly and/or adult care
living and/or adult special needs;
b. For residential developments restricted for a period of at least thirty years
to dormitory housing for university students.
If the use of a development restricted as provided above changes, then before a permit
authorizing such change of use becomes effective, a CAPS must be issued just as if the
development were being constructed initially.
15.2.5 Applicability to Previously Approved Projects and Projects Pending
Approval.
(a) Except as otherwise provided herein, the provisions of this Article shall
only apply to applications for approval of site plans, special use permits, major
subdivision preliminary plats or minor subdivision final plats that are submitted for
approval after the effective date of this Article.
(b) The provisions of this Article shall not apply to amendments to site plans
special use permits, major subdivision preliminary plats or minor subdivision final plats
issued prior to the effective date of this Article so long as the approvals have not expired
and the proposed amendments do not increase the number of dwelling units authorized
within the development by more than five percent or five dwelling units, whichever is
less.
(c) The Board of County Commissioners shall issue a special exception to the
CAPS requirement to an applicant whose application for approval of a site plan, special
use permit, a major subdivision preliminary plat or a minor subdivision final plat covers
property within a planned unit development or master plan project that was approved
prior to the effective date of this Article, if the Board of County Commissioners finds,
after an evidentiary hearing, that the applicant has (1) applied to the School District for a
CAPS and the application has been denied, (2) in good faith made substantial
\\COLEMANPDC\SHARED\Lisa\orangecounty\DraftSAPFO-ZO-Amendment rev by GEG fi2403.doc 4
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expenditures or incurred substantial binding obligations in reasonable reliance on the
previously obtained planned unit development or master plan approval, and (3) would be
unreasonably prejudiced if development in accordance with the previously approved
development or plan is delayed due to the provisions of this Article. In deciding whether
these findings can be made, the Board of County Commissioners shall consider the
following, among other relevant factors:
(1) Whether the developer has installed streets, utilities, or other
facilities or expended substantial sums in the planning and preparation for
installation of such facilities which were designed to serve or to be paid
for in part by the development of portions of the planned unit development
or master planned project that have not yet been approved for
construction;
(2) Whether the developer has installed streets, utilities, or other
facilities or expended substantial sums in the planning and preparation for
installation of such facilities that directly benefit other properties outside
the development in question or the general public;
(3) Whether the developer has donated .land to the School District for
the construction of school facilities or otherwise dedicated land or made
improvements deemed to benefit the School District and its public school
system;
(4) Whether the developer has had development approval for a
substantial amount of time and has in good faith worked to timely
implement the plan in reasonable reliance on the previously obtained
approval;
(5) The duration of the delay that will occur until public school
facilities are improved or exist to such an extent that a CAPS can be issued
for the project, and the effect of such delay on the development and the
developer.
(d) The decision of the Board of County Commissioners involving a special
exception application under subsection (c) is subject to review by the Orange County
Superior Court by proceedings in the nature of certiorari. Any petition for review by the
Superior Court shall be filed with the Clerk of Superior Court within 30 days after a
written copy of the decision of the Board of County Commissioners is delivered to the
applicant and every other party who has filed a written request for such copy with the
Clerk to the Board of County Commissioners at the time of its hearing on the application
for a special exception. The written copy of the decision of the Board of County
Commissioners may be delivered either by personal service or by certified mail, return
receipt requested.
(e) The Chair of the Board of County Commissioners or any member
temporarily acting as Chair may, in his or her official capacity, administer oaths to
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witnesses in any hearing before the Board of County Commissioners concerning a special
exception or an appeal of School District denial of a CAPS.
15.2.6 Appeal of School District Denial of a CAPS.
The applicant for a CAPS which is denied by the School District may, within 30
days of the date of the denial, appeal the denial to the Board of County Commissioners.
Any such appeal shall be heard by the Board of County Commissioners at an evidentiary
hearing before it. At this hearing the School District will present its reasons for the
denial of the CAPS and the evidence it relied on in denying the CAPS. The applicant
appealing the denial may present its reasons why the CAPS application should have, in
its view, been approved and the evidentiary basis it contends supports approval. The
Board of County Commissioners may (1) affirm the decision of the School District, (2)
remand to the School District for further proceedings in the event evidence is presented at
the hearing before the Board of County Commissioners not brought before the School
District, or (3) issue a CAPS. The Board of County Commissioners will only issue a
CAPS if it finds that the CAPS should have been issued by the School District as
prescribed in the MOU. A decision of the Board of County Commissioners affirming the
School District may be appealed by the applicant for a CAPS by proceedings in the
nature of certiorari and as prescribed for an appeal under Sections 15.2.5(d) and 15.2.5(e)
of this Article.
15.2.7 Information Required From Applicants.
The applicant for a CAPS shall submit to the School District all information
reasonably deemed necessary by the School District to determine whether a CAPS should
be issued under the provisions of the MOU. An applicant for a CAPS special exception
or an applicant appealing a CAPS denial by the School District shall submit to the Board
of County Commissioners all information reasonably deemed necessary by the Board of
County Commissioners to determine whether a special exception should be granted as
provided in Section 15.2.5 or for the hearing of an appeal of a School District denial of a
CAPS as provided in Section 15.2.6. A copy of a request for a CAPS special exception
or of an appeal of a School District denial of a CAPS shall be served on the
superintendent of the School District. Service may be made by personal delivery or
certified mail, return receipt requested.
Section 2. This ordinance shall become effective
The foregoing ordinance, having been submitted to a vote, received the following
vote and was duly adopted this day of , 20U_
Ayes:
Noes:
Absent or Excused:
\\COLEMANPDC\SHARED\Lisa\orangecounty\DraftSAPFO-ZO-Amendment rev by GEG 62403.doc
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Revised 6/25/03
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING AN ORDINANCE TO REGULATE THE
SUBDIVISION OF LAND IN ORANGE COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA TO
REQUIRE THAT THE ADEQUACY OF PUBLIC SCHOOL FACILITIES TO
ACCOMMODATE NEW DEVELOPMENT BE CONSIDERED IN THE
APPROVAL PROCESS
WHEREAS, the portion of Orange County served by the Chapel Hill-Carrboro
City school system and the Orange County school system, have for the past decade been
experiencing rapid growth in population; and
WHEREAS, this rapid growth, and that which is anticipated, creates a demand for
additional school facilities to accommodate the children who reside within new
developments; and
WHEREAS, the responsibility for planning for and constructing new school
facilities lies primarily with the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Board of Education and the
Orange County Board of Education, with funding provided by Orange County; and
WHEREAS, Carrboro, Chapel Hill, the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Board of
Education and Orange County on the one hand and Hillsborough, the Orange County
Board of Education and Orange County on the other hand have recognized the need to
work together to ensure that new growth within the School Districts occurs at a pace that
allows Orange County and the School Districts to provide adequate school facilities to
serve the children within such new developments; and
WHEREAS, to implement the Memoranda of Understanding among Carrboro,
Chapel Hill, the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Board of Education and Orange County and
among Hillsborough, the Orange County Board of Education and Orange County, the
Board of Commissioners of Orange County desires to provide a mechanism to assure
that, to the extent possible, new development will take place only when there are
adequate public school facilities available, or planned, which will accommodate such
new development;
NOW THEREFORE, THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF
ORANGE COUNTY ORDAINS:
Section 1. The Ordinance to Regulate the Subdivision of Land in Orange
County, North Carolina is amended by creating a new Section IV-B-12 to read as
follows:
IV-B-12. SCHOOL ADEQUATE PUBLIC FACILITIES
IV-B-12-a. Pur ose
The purpose of this Section is to ensure that, to the maximum extent practical,
approval of new residential development will become effective only when it can
reasonably be expected that adequate public school facilities will be available to
accommodate such new development.
\\COLEMANPDC\SHARED\Lisa\orangecounty\DraftSAPFO-SR-Amendment rev by GEG 62403.doc 1
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IV-B-12-b. Auplicability
The provisions of this Section shall apply to the following areas: The entirety of
the County lying outside of the municipalities therein, outside of the extraterritorial
planning jurisdiction, if any, of the municipalities therein and also outside of the Joint
Planning Area Transition Area, if any, of the municipalities therein.
The Chapel Hill-Carrboro School District and the Orange County School District
are each declared to be an overlay district in order to implement Schools Adequate Public
Facilities as prescribed in this Article. Within the Chapel Hill-Carrboro School District
Overlay District and within the Orange County School District Overlay District, the
provisions of this Article apply.
IV-B-12-c. Administration
IV-B-12-c1. Certificate of Adequacy of Public School Facilities.
(a) Subject to the remaining provisions of this Section, no approval of a major
subdivision preliminary plat or a minor subdivision final plat for a residential
development shall become effective unless and until a Certificate of Adequacy of Public
Schools Facilities (CAPS) for the project has been issued by the School District.
(b) A CAPS shall not be required for a general use or special use rezoning or
for a master land use plan. However, even if a rezoning or master plan is approved, a
CAPS will nevertheless be required before any of the permits or approvals identified in
subsection (a) of this section shall become effective, and the rezoning of the property or
approval of a master plan provides no indication as to whether the CAPS will be issued.
The application for rezoning or master plan approval shall contain a statement to this
effect.
(c) A CAPS must be obtained from the School District. The School District
will issue or deny a CAPS in accordance with the provisions of the Schools Adequate
Public Facilities Memorandum of Understanding, as to the Chapel Hill-Carrboro School
District, between Carrboro, Chapel Hill, Orange County, and the Chapel Hill-Carrboro
City Board of Education and as to the Orange County School District, between
Hillsborough, Orange County and the Orange County Board of Education. These
Memoranda of Understanding are hereafter referred to as "the MOUs" or "the MOU" as
the context requires.
(d) A CAPS attaches to the land in the same way that development permission
attaches to the land. A CAPS may be transferred along with other interests in the
property with respect to which such CAPS is issued, but may not be severed or
transferred separately.
IV-B-12-c2. Service Levels.
(a) This Section describes the service levels regarded as adequate by the
parties to the MOUs with respect to public school facilities.
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(b) As provided in the MOUs, adequate service levels for public schools shall
be deemed to exist with respect to a proposed new residential development if, given the
number of school age children projected to reside in that development, and considering
all the factors listed in the MOU, projected school membership for the elementary
schools, the middle schools, and the high schools within the School District will not
exceed the following percentages of the building capacities of each of the following three
school levels:
elementary school level 105%
middle school level 107%
high school level 110%
For the period of time beginning the effective date of this Section and terminating on the
day on which the third high school within the Chapel Hill-Carrboro School District is
first attended by high school students, the determination by the Chapel Hill-Carrboro
School District that adequate service levels for public schools exist shall be made without
regard to whether or not projected capacity of the High School level exceeds 110% of
Building Capacity. On and after the day on which the third high school within the Chapel
Hill-Carrboro School District is first attended by high school students, determination by
the Chapel Hill-Carrboro School District that adequate service levels for public schools
exist shall be made only if projected capacity of each school level does not exceed the
following:
Elementary School 105% of Building Capacity
Middle School 107% of Building Capacity
High School 110% of Building Capacity
For the period of time beginning the effective date of this Section and terminating on the
day on which the third middle school within the Orange County School District is first
attended by middle school students, the determination by the Orange County School
District that adequate service levels for public schools exist shall be made without regard
to whether or not projected capacity of the Middle School level exceeds 107% of
Building Capacity. On and after the day on which the third middle school within the
Orange County School District is first attended by middle school students, determination
by the Orange County School District that adequate service levels for public schools exist
shall be made only if projected capacity of each school level does not exceed the
following:
Elementary School 105% of Building Capacity
Middle School 107% of Building Capacity
High School 110% of Building Capacity
For purposes of this Section, the terms "building capacity" and "school membership"
shall have the same meaning attributed in the MOUs.
C~
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IV-B-12.c3. Expiration of Certificates of Adequacy of Public School Facilities.
A CAPS issued in connection with approval of a major subdivision preliminary
plat or a minor subdivision final plat shall expire automatically upon the expiration of
such permit approval.
IV-B-12-c4. Exemption From Certification Requirement for Development with
Negli ible Student Generation Rates
In recognition of the fact that some new development will have a negligible
impact on school capacity, a CAPS shall not be required under the following
circumstances:
(1) For residential developments restricted by law and/or covenant for a
period of at least thirty years to housing for the elderly and/or adult care
living and/or adult special needs;
(2) For residential developments restricted for a period of at least thirty years
to dormitory housing for university students.
If the use of a development restricted as provided above changes, then before a permit
authorizing such change of use becomes effective, a CAPS must be issued just as if the
development were being constructed initially.
IV-B-12-c5. Applicability to Previously Approved Proiects and Proiects Pending
Approval.
(a) Except as otherwise provided herein, the provisions of this Section shall
only apply to applications for approval of major subdivision preliminary plats or minor
subdivision final plats that are submitted for approval after the effective date of this
Section.
(b) The provisions of this Section shall not apply to amendments to major
subdivision preliminary plats or minor subdivision final plats issued prior to the effective
date of this Section so long as the approvals have not expired and the proposed
amendments do not increase the number of dwelling units authorized within the
development by more than five percent or five dwelling units, whichever is less.
(c) The Board of County Commissioners shall issue a special exception to the
CAPS requirement to an applicant whose application for approval of a major subdivision
preliminary plat covers property within a planned unit development or master plan
project that was approved prior to the effective date of this Section, if the Board of
County Commissioners finds, after an evidentiary hearing, that the applicant has (1)
applied to the School District for a CAPS and the application has been denied, (2) in
good faith made substantial expenditures or incurred substantial binding obligations in
reasonable reliance on the previously obtained planned unit development or master plan
approval, and (3) would be unreasonably prejudiced if development in accordance with
the previously approved development or plan is delayed due to the provisions of this
Section. In deciding whether these findings can be made, the Board of County
Commissioners shall consider the following, among other relevant factors:
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(1) Whether the developer has installed streets, utilities, or other
facilities or expended substantial sums in the planning and preparation for
installation of such facilities which were designed to serve or to be paid
for in part by the development of portions of the planned unit development
or master planned project that have not yet been approved for
construction;
(2) Whether the developer has installed streets, utilities, or other
facilities or expended substantial sums in the planning and preparation for
installation of such facilities that directly benefit other properties outside
the development in question or the general public;
(3) Whether the developer has donated land to the School District for
the construction of school facilities or otherwise dedicated land or made
improvements deemed to benefit the School District and its public school
system;
(4) Whether the developer has had development approval for a
substantial amount of time and has in good faith worked to timely
implement the plan in reasonable reliance on the previously obtained
approval;
(5) The duration of the delay that will occur until public school
facilities are improved or exist to such an extent that a CAPS can be issued
for the project, and the effect of such delay on the development and the
developer.
(d) The decision of the Board of County Commissioners involving a special
exception application under subsection (c) is subject to review by the Orange County
Superior Court by proceedings in the nature of certiorari. Any petition for review by the
Superior Court shall be filed with the Clerk of Superior Court within 30 days after a
written copy of the decision of the Board of County Commissioners is delivered to the
applicant and every other party who has filed a written request for such copy with the
Clerk to the Board of County Commissioners at the time of its hearing on the application
for a special exception. The written copy of the decision of the Board of County
Commissioners may be delivered either by personal service or by certified mail, return
receipt requested.
(e) The Chair of the Board of County Commissioners or any member
temporarily acting as Chair may, in his or her official capacity, administer oaths to
witnesses in any hearing before the Board of County Commissioners concerning a special
exception or an appeal of School District denial of a CAPS.
IV-B-12-c6. Appeal of School District Denial of a CAPS.
The applicant for a CAPS which is denied by the School District may, within 30
days of the date of the denial, appeal the denial to the Board of County Commissioners.
Any such appeal shall be heard by the Board of County Commissioners at an evidentiary
hearing before it. At this hearing the School District will present its reasons for the
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denial of the CAPS and the evidence it relied on in denying the CAPS. The applicant
appealing the denial may present its reasons why the CAPS application should have, in
its view, been approved and the evidentiary basis it contends supports approval. The
Board of County Commissioners may (1) affirm the decision of the School District, (2)
remand to the School District for further proceedings in the event evidence is presented at
the hearing before the Board of County Commissioners not brought before the School
District, or (3) issue a CAPS. The Board of County Commissioners will only issue a
CAPS if it finds that the CAPS should have been issued by the School District as
prescribed in the MOU. A decision of the Board of County Commissioners affirming the
School District may be appealed by the applicant for a CAPS by proceedings in the
nature of certiorari and as prescribed for an appeal under Subsections IV-B-12-c5(d) and
IV-B-12-c5(e) of this Section.
IV-B-12-c7. Information Required From Applicants.
The applicant for a CAPS shall submit to the School District all information
reasonably deemed necessary by the School District to determine whether a CAPS should
be issued under the provisions of the MOU. An applicant for a CAPS special exception
or an applicant appealing a CAPS denial by the School District shall submit to the Board
of County Commissioners all information reasonably deemed necessary by the Board of
County Commissioners to determine whether a special exception should be granted as
provided in Subsections IV-B-12-c5 or for the hearing of an appeal of a School District
denial of a CAPS as provided in Subsection IV-B-12-c6. A copy of a request for a CAPS
special exception or of an appeal of a School District denial of a CAPS shall be served on
the superintendent of the School District. Service may be made by personal delivery or
certified mail, return receipt requested.
Section 2. This ordinance shall become effective
The foregoing ordinance, having been submitted to a vote, received the following
vote and was duly adopted this day of , 200_
Ayes:
Noes:
Absent or Excused:
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