AG 2004 04 19 - Laserfiche WebLink

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M~nutes - Community Committee on Educahon Capital Planning and F~nanc~ng 3 PRESENTATION ON LAND USE, ZONING & SCHOOL SITING BY JONATHAN MARSHALL, COMMERCE DIRECTOR AND RODGER LENTZ, PLANNING & ZONING MANAGER: Mr. Lentz presented statistical information on growth percentages for 2001-2003 compared to the 2000 census for the following areas: ~l]ll IFATZ~,~,. .'~l]llll ' :_-~..-.[1111[I I(I] i -r'l~-!llll~,llZO]i~ --~.; ;;;'~| [(l~O] III[l: :' Census 22% Increase 50% Increase 80% Increase 11% Increase 24% Increase 12% Increase 2003 27% Increase 25% Increase 21% Increase 12% Increase 6% Increase 11% Increase Mr. Lentz projected population figures to reach 179,000 by 2010. Mr. Lentz said Installation of water and sewer lines, economic development projects (Concord Mills and the Concord Airport), access to 1-85 and 485 and Highway 49 improvements were spurring development. Mr. Lentz displayed a General Zoning and Future Land Use Map during his discussion. Mr. Marshall distributed a handout entitled, Summary of Recommendations from "Good Schools - Good Neighborhoods". He pointed out that neighborhood schools tie in with development decisions and advised that the County staff members work closely with the Schools on site selection for new schools. Mr. Marshall encouraged the Committee to consider constructing smaller schools, saving old schools and building on smaller sites. Using A. T. Allen School on Hwy 601 as an example, he stated the school has location and safety constraints such as the amount of traffic, ingress, egress, the lack of recreational facilities and mobile classrooms. If a smaller neighborhood type school were built nearby to remove some of the pressure from A. T. Allen, funds could be used to improve the access to A. T. Allen from possibly Miami Church Road. The installation of turn lane improvements would help the ingress and egress. There could be an opportunity to remove the mobile classrooms and add additional recreational facilities. During his presentation, Mr. Marshall also discussed the need to choose a school site that is closer to existing facilities and infrastructure. Mr. Day commented on the growth associated with sewer lines that have been built in the County along with the amount of money borrowed in the last ten years to build new schools and the amount projected for the next five years. He stated growth comes with a cost and Cabarrus County has to manage the cost. Mr. Jim Amendum, Assistant County School Superintendent, commented on the growth in the county and County staff's recommendation to build smaller schools or renovate older facilities. He stated the County Schools did studies on costs associated with building smaller schools and/or renovating old facilities and found that the costs were higher. Mr. Amendum expressed concern that the Schools have been under- funded on past projects and stated in his opinion money is being wasted on mobile units. Finally, he wanted to know why these items were being discussed in the eleventh hour and why they were not discussed at the November meeting. Mr, Day said he disagreed with the premise that it is more expensive to build smaller schools and said Mr. Amendum's question was inappropriate. He said staff was recommending the Committee look at smaller schools as an opportunity to do things right in addressing the school needs in Cabarrus County, Mayor Padgett suggested the Committee should continue to listen and discuss these long-range issues but a decision regarding the immediate bond needs would have to be made soon.