Developments may have to get school district OK

LONGMONT – Following a controversial, 90-day moratorium on certain residential d

evelopment applications, the Longmont city council is considering an ordinance t

hat would require developers to receive a certificate of approval from the St. V

SPONSORED CONTENT

Commercial Solar is a big investment, but not an overwhelming one

Solar offers a significant economic benefit for commercial property owners while also positively impacting the environment and offering a path to compliance for new municipal requirements like Energize Denver. A local, experienced solar installer will help you navigate the complexities of commercial solar to achieve financial success for your project.

rain 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 de

tailed proposal of the ordinance to the city council this month.

The ordinance would require that adequate school capacity exist before annexatio

ns or subdivision plats are approved. It also would require that city council st

op issuing building permits in areas where the 125 percent school capacity mark

is exceeded. If passed, the city council could deny annexations, preliminary dev

elopment plans, subdivision plats or building permits unless adequate school fin

ancing is included.

“We would issue what is called a certificate of adequate education facilities, o

r a CAEF, once developers have shown that a proposed development would not overt

ax 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 say

ing yes or no. But I do think it’s appropriate for the school district to work w

ith 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, researc

h conducted by his office indicates that the city of Longmont’s population is in

creasing 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 comp

rises 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 t

o exacerbate the situation,” DelVecchio said. “But once one school exceeds 125 p

ercent, 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 adequat

e school capacity.”

DelVecchio said similar ordinances have been used effectively in other states, i

ncluding Maryland, Florida and North Carolina. He said other school districts ha

ve intergovernmental agreements that require developers to pay impact fees or pr

ovide land for schools. This year, 14 school district buildings in Longmont, inc

luding three high schools, were at least 95 percent full.