Developments may have to get school district OK

LONGMONT – Following a controversial, 90-day moratorium on certain residential development applications, the Longmont city council is considering an ordinance that would require developers to receive a certificate of approval from the St. Vrain Valley School District before being able to move forward with new building projects.

A task force composed of city council and school board members will present a detailed proposal of the ordinance to the city council this month.

The ordinance would require that adequate school capacity exist before annexations or subdivision plats are approved. It also would require that city council stop issuing building permits in areas where the 125 percent school capacity mark is exceeded. If passed, the city council could deny annexations, preliminary development plans, subdivision plats or building permits unless adequate school financing is included.

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“We would issue what is called a certificate of adequate education facilities, or a CAEF, once developers have shown that a proposed development would not overtax our facilities,´ said Scott Toillion, a planning specialist for the St. Vrain Valley School District. “The overall concept is that when a school reaches 125 percent capacity, we would not issue a CAEF for that area unless the builder can mitigate the project or we can build to meet the increased demand.”

Toillion said building projects being considered would be referred to the school district by the city of Longmont and that the district’s function simply would be to review the developments based on a set of criteria.

“We’re not the ones approving the developments. We aren’t in the business of saying yes or no. But I do think it’s appropriate for the school district to work with the community to make sure adequate educational facilities are in place. We are an important part of the infrastructure that serves the community,” he said.

According to Phil DelVecchio, Longmont’s community development director, research conducted by his office indicates that the city of Longmont’s population is increasing by about 4 percent every year, with the increase in the number of homes keeping pace. The total number of residential units in Longmont, which now comprises 21.5 square miles, was 27,585 in 1999, a 4 percent increase from 1998.

“The council is looking to manage development in attendance areas in order not to exacerbate the situation,” DelVecchio said. “But once one school exceeds 125 percent, then it’s time for another. The developers are going to have to provide information that shows that somehow they are going to assist in ensuring adequate school capacity.”

DelVecchio said similar ordinances have been used effectively in other states, including Maryland, Florida and North Carolina. He said other school districts have intergovernmental agreements that require developers to pay impact fees or provide land for schools. This year, 14 school district buildings in Longmont, including three high schools, were at least 95 percent full.