AG 2005 04 18 - Laserfiche WebLink

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MEMO TO: FROM: SUBJECT: DATE: NICOLe RSTORY, AICP ROBERiT KLUTTZ WELLINGTON CHASE REVIEW FEBRUARY 2, 2005 We have completed our review ofthe preliminary subdivision plat for Wellington Chase. It is our understanding that this proposed subdivision is located on NC Highway 73 with a connection to Odell School Road. This proposed subdivision has 292 lots and upon its completion approxima~ely 175 students will be added to the schools serving this area. Those schools are W. R Odell Elementary School, Harris Road Middle School, and Northwest Cabarrus High School. W. R Odell is scheduled to be replaced on a site off Harris Road adjacent to Moss Creek. While we will gain some additional seats upon completion of the new school, it is expected to reach capacity from the Moss Creek Subdivision. As we reView the impact of the proposed Wellington Chase Subdivision, we are also reviewing ~our additional proposed subdivisions on Poplar Tent Road and in an area between Shiloh Church Road and Jim Johnson Roads that are in the W. ROdell attendance area. The potential growth generated by thesliJ proposed subdivisions is not included in our Fifteen-Year Facility Plan. The two new elementary schools to be built on the western side of the county with the recently approved bond are for growth from already approved lots. If these additional subdivisions (Pelhem Pointe - 116 lots, Waterford on the Rocky River~ 263 lots, Crystal Creek- 398 lots and Poplar Ridge- 205 lots) are approved we will not have space to accommodate this new growth. We have a similar situation with the middle and high schools serving this area. While Harris Road Middle School and Northwest Cabarrus High School currently have some available seats we exp~ct them to exceed capacity within two years. Hopefully, with the opening of the new high school in 2007 or 2008 southeast of Harrisburg we will be able to shift some students trom Northwest Cabarrus to Jay M. Robinson. Plans for a new middle school that could relieve Harris Road and Northwest Cabarrus Middle School are further out in the Fifte~-Year Facility Plan. Another issue of grave :concern is the additional traffic that will be generated by new growth in this area. St1,ldent ride time on school buses is already impacted by the volume oftraffic on the roads serving this part of the county. Road improvements and other infrastructure issues should be addressed before consideration is given to new subdivision approval in the Poplar Tent Road and Davidson Highway areas. In summary, the schools being planned for the west side of the county are for projected growth from already aRproved lots, not new subdivisions. The opening of these schools is two or three years otit depending on land acquisition and construction schedules. In any event it is obvious that we will be operating in extremely overcrowded conditions for several years. Thanks for extending to us the opportunity to make comments concerning the impact of new growth on our schools. E-\