School Allocation Policy Briefing

Presenters:

Deborah Carpenter, Director, PGM

Jason Groth, Deputy Director, PGM

Ben Yeckley, Planner III, PGM June 16, 2020

Goals & Objectives

• Encourage development in the following areas: • Development District and/or Opportunity Zones

• Waldorf Urban Redevelopment Corridor Zones (WC & AUC Zones)

• Incentivize Mixed-Use & Affordable/Workforce Housing Projects• Encourage Transit-Oriented Development

• Eliminate the barriers to achieving higher-density developments

• Reduce vehicle trips

• Create Predictability• Time limit for School Waiting List

Current Policy Limitations

• Allocate 20% of Available Allocations / Prohibits Mixed-use & Multi-family projects

• Drives Development Outside of the Development District

• Capacity must be available at all three levels (Elementary, Middle, High Schools)

• Projects may be on the Waiting List indefinitely

Enrollment vs. Allocation History

10841 10850 11009 11226 11299 11514 11606 11556 11710 11797 12005 12054 12102

6179 6188 6176 6091 5966 5806 5833 5803 5913 5958 6096 6242 6504

9269 9275 9204 9140 9105 8941 8693 8574 8393 8303 8443 8477 8619

26289 26313 26389 26457 26370 26261 26132 25933 26016 2605826544 26773 27225

0

5000

10000

15000

20000

25000

30000

2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

School Enrollment History

Elementary Middle High Total

321285

243

166

6893

326

230

503

284

91

661

25

141

13

205242

148

78

215

278

210

305

12671 54

28 33 16 7 10 14 9 11 8

268

117

290

147

244

622

250

356

94 114

207

132

1376

498

728

354

550

973

437 450

553

904

712

536

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

School Allocation History

School Allocation Waiting List DRRA Bulk St. Charles Total

Quick Review of other Jurisdictions:

• Frederick applies Student Yield Factor to the Development Project & uses a Pass/Fail Criteria to permit 100% of allocations

• Anne Arundel uses a Sunset Provision consistent with CIP term

• St. Mary’s uses 115% of State Rated Capacity and shares capacity across all schools at each level

Proposed Changes – Option 1

• Apply Student Yield Factor directly to Development Project

• Sharing Capacity for Projects in Development District

• Expanded Capacity Sharing for Priority Projects

• Introduces a Sunset Provision for Waiting List

Development District (Option 1 – Cont’d)

• Projects that are in the Development District can Share Capacity from One (1) Adjacent School if One of the Three (3) Levels is Over Capacity

Priority Projects (Option 1 – Cont’d)

• Can Share from Any School in the Corresponding Level for Two (2) of the Three (3) Levels

• Must have Approved Development Agreement (w/Phasing/Build-Out Schedule)

• Must meet at least ONE of the following:• Located within WURC Zones (WC & AUC)

• Mixed-Use Development *

• Consist of at least 50% Affordable/Workforce Housing Development *

*Defined on Next Slide

Priority Projects (Option 1 – Cont’d)

• Limited to 800 Units Per Year

• Affordable/Workforce Housing Projects must be committed to less than 80% of the Median Household Income, or approved for Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC)

• Mixed-Use Projects must be Pedestrian-Friendly and Blend Two (2) or more of the following Land Uses: Residential, Commercial, and/or Institutional

Sunset Provision (Option 1 – Cont’d)

• Projects that are on the School Allocation Waiting List for Five (5) Annual Cycles are Granted all Allocations

• Typically Tied to County’s CIP

• Sunset provides predictability and fairness to the Development Community

• Gives Board of Education & Commissioners time to plan for needed capacity

• Suggested Option: 50% of Allocations granted after 5 years, the other 50% are granted after 6 years

Opportunity Zone – Option 2

• Promote Development/Redevelopment in the Opportunity Zones

• Projects in the Opportunity Zones may be exempt from the School Allocation Policy if it meets at least ONE of the following:

• Project is Mixed-Use Development

• Contains at least 50% Affordable/Workforce Housing

• Located in the WURC Zones

• Requires a Development Agreement & Phasing Schedule

Additional Variations to consider:

• Percentage of Affordable/Workforce Housing required (40%, 60%, etc.)

• Sunset Provision can be Extended or Shortened (3yrs, 4yrs, 6yrs, etc.)

• Sunset Provision can be Staggered (50% at Sunset / 50% year after)

• Could extend the Allocation Policy to MX and PRD Zones

Requested Action:

• Provide direction on preferred “Option”

• Determine if “Variations” are desired

• Direct Staff to develop Draft Legislation accordingly

Presented By:

Charles County Government

Department of Planning & Growth

Management301-645-0645• YeckleyB@CharlesCountyMD.gov

200 Baltimore Street, La Plata, MD 20646MD Relay Service: 7-1-1

Equal Opportunity EmployerIt is the policy of Charles County to provide equal employment opportunity to all persons regardless of race,

color, sex, age, national origin, religious or political affiliation or opinion, disability, marital status, sexual

orientation, genetic information, gender identity or expression, or any other status protected by law.

www.CharlesCountyMD.gov