EARLY PLANNING - SCHOOL SITE SELECTION CASH / CCFC Workshop January 14, 2003 Michael O'Neill - Calif. Dept. of Education School Facilities Planning Division ASSUMPTIONS (Already done?) Identified need for new site(s) via Master Plan, School Facility Needs Analysis, etc. Considered approx. location, capacity, acreage needs, etc. Identified if Ed. Program & Specs. and District policies may add local site selection criteria Ongoing Communication with city/county (planning future growth, school General Plan designations, possible reservations or joint-use?) Plan/Allocate sufficient staff/resources/time to complete site selection & approval process MANY PARALLEL TRACKS & CRITICAL PATHS/STEPS Preliminary Search - Identification, Screening CDE - Approval Criteria / Process, Special Studies DTSC - Phase I, PEA, Response Action CEQA & other Public Resource Code sections City/County & Other Local Agency Coordination Due Diligence Investigations, Special studies Preliminary Architectural Concepts, requirements Real Estate/Legal - appraisal, negotiation, em. domain Governing Board and Public Relations
PROCESS MANAGEMENT Consultants CDE BOARD Legal Due Diligence City / County TEAM Management DTSC CEQA Public Finances Real Estate Preliminary Architectural Concepts THINK TEAM APPROACH Project Management. Form a Team, define upfront roles, identify expertise on staff and via consultants. Who will be responsible for process, criteria and selection/recommendation? Communication. Within Team, Board, legal counsel, the Public? (subcommittees?) Early Utilization of CDE resources and check for latest regulations/policies/criteria (e.g., EMF, Pipeline Protocol, Small Site Policy, etc.) ANTICIPATE CDE CRITERIA Title 5 Sections 14010 for Standards & 14011-14012 for Procedures for Site Selection Recommended Acreage via CDE 2000 Guide SFPD 4.0 Field Review (completed by CDE) SFPD 4.01 Approval Procedures (lists all items required for final approval submittal) SFPD 4.02 School Site Report (allows District comments/explanations) SFPD 4.03 Certification of completion of Ed. Code and Public Resource Code etc.
ANTICIPATE ED. CODE REQUIRMENTS ECS 17211 Board public hearing for evaluation prior to acquisition using Title 5 site selection standards ECS 17212 & 17215.5 Investigation of prospective school site prior to acquisition: geological and soils engineering studies ECS 17213 Board adopted findings/ determinations prior to acquisition re: waste disposal site, hazardous substance release, onsite pipelines, & hazardous air emitters/material handlers within ¼ mile (also see PRC 21151.8) ANTICIPATE ED. CODE REQUIREMENTS (Cont.) ECS 17215 Cal Trans aeronautics review via CDE if within two miles of existing or planned airport runway, Board hearing if favorable report prior to acquisition ECS 17215.5 Board findings for acquisition of land general planned/zoned for agricultural use prior to acquisition ANTICIPATE PUBLIC RESOURCES CODE Reqrmnts. Section 21151.2 Proposed school site acquisition or land expansion requires notice to the City/Co. planning commission for their investigation/report within 30 days Section 21151.8 School site purchase or new school construction; approval of environmental impact report or negative declaration requires info. and Board adopted findings/ determinations re: waste sites, hazardous substance release, on-site pipelines, ¼ mile for hazardous air emitters / material handlers
ANTICIPATE GOV. CODE REQUIREMENTS Section 53094-96 Need to render zoning/gen. Plan inapplicable? 51290 et. seq. In Williamson Act preserves/contracts, Farmland Security zones? 65352 et seq. - City /County Coordination of plans, notices, requests for meetings 66478 City/Co. ordinance for dedication of land for elementary schools at tentative tract INITIAL SEARCH Identify general limits of future attendance area, begin at macro work toward micro level Identify City/Co. approved/filed development plans, general plan designations? Joint-use? Using District policies/criteria and major CDE Title 5 constraints -map& eliminate problem areas e.g. airports, railroad tracks, faults, powerlines, flood plains, noise generators, pipelines, incompatible zoning/uses, etc. Scout for potential sites, undeveloped land or underutilized properties, talk to brokers? OTHER SUGGESTIONS For Elementary sites in growing residential community, consider large developer negotiation/reservation thru tentative tracts, be careful of donated sites, timing of improvements Middle/High school sites usually must involve larger/regional planning coordination, possible already adopted/underway Specific Plans, EIRs? For Continuation/Alternative High Schools, think about approval well in advance if possible Start CEQA Input Early, Anticipate Possible Problems/Controversies (NIMBYs)
KEY COMPONENTS FOR SCREENING CANDIDATE SITES Safety Issues (#1 highest weighted criteria) Environmental/Compatibility issues Soils and Topography Size and Shape, other physical qualities Relative Location Issues Accessibility, Services, Utilities, Easements Cost & Availability Public Acceptance MAJOR SAFETY CONSTRAINTS * Railroads within 1,500 ft. * Powerlines above 50 kv * Pipelines within 1,500 ft. * Water/fuel storage tanks * Flood Plain/Dam inundation * Earthquake Faults/Trace/liquefaction * Traffic Safety/Noise * Airport Runways within 2 miles * Compatible Surrounding Uses, ¼ mile hazard * Toxics EVALUATION OF CANDIDATE SITES Consider weighted selection criteria matrix and objectively total points for comparison of Candidate sites. Subjective judgment is usually involved in rating each site and can be skewed Consider use of EIR to further evaluate Candidate Sites as Alternatives (beware of finding that the better environmental choice may not be the district s preferred choice)
EVALUATING ALTERNATIVES Accessibility and Compatibility Streets Two Sides of Site? Linkage to: Local/Regional Street/Transportation Safe Walking Route Utilities/Services Gas/Electric/Water/Sewer Police/Fire Surrounding Opportunities/Constraints Zoning? Haz. Air Emitters/Material Handlers Parks? Other Joint Uses? EVALUATING ALTERNATIVES Site Qualities/Quantities Size and Shape Adequate net useable acreage for planned enrollment and ed. program (use small site policy if < 50%) Appropriate length to width (< 2:1) Topography & Other Attributes Grading and Drainage Considerations Site Planning Issues, orientation, sun wind, etc. EVALUATING ALTERNATIVES Availability & Cost Cost Willing seller vs. Condemnation & Relocation Site Development: Grading, Utilities, On & Off-site Improvements Political Considerations Community Acceptance Coordination with Local Planning Commission, override zoning?
CDE PROCESS SUMMARY District locates preferably at least three approvable alternative sites for school project District requests CDE Field Review, CDE visits sites, completes 4.0 form for each alternative, identifies any problems or studies necessary, ranks sites, determines if approvable District selects its preferred site, conducts all investigations/processes, including DTSC, CEQA, Plan. Com. Notice, Aeronautics, etc. CDE PROCESS SUMMARY (Cont.) District submits all at once: approval request with all 4.01 documents, any 4.0 required special studies, & 4.02 Site Report, and 4.03 Certification that district has completed and complied with Ed. Code & PRC requirements CDE may grant exemptions to any Title 5 standard if the district can demonstrate mitigation without compromising a safe & support school environment Contingent - Financial or Env. Hardship issues MAJOR CDE DOCUMENTATION REQUIREMENTS - SFPD 4.01 Board Adopted Written Findings ¼ mile, etc. DTSC Approved Phase I/PEA Summary Geologic Hazards Study (with pipeline info) Adopted CEQA Docs. & proof of SCH circ. Planning Commission Report Maps and Legal Description Site Utilization Diagram Master Plan Justification Joint-Use Agreement Unused Site Documentation Aeronautics review & other Special Studies
DTSC SUMMARY DTSC required if seeking State Funding or CDE approval for locally funded projects Phase I Paper/data base investigation of historic use of site, potential for toxics (If Clean, send with $1,500 directly to DTSC Glendale Office) Preliminary Endangerment Assessment (PEA) if potential contamination: Conduct Sampling, Health Risk Assessment, Public Partic.) under Env. Oversight Agrmt., may link w/ceqa doc. Response Action Clean up under a Voluntary Cleanup Agreement (Public Partic. & CEQA) DTSC Determinations Necessary for Final CDE Site Approval DTSC Approved Phase I with No Action, or DTSC Approved Preliminary Endangerment Assessment PEA with No Further Action, or DTSC Approved Cleanup Plan (Response Action) Or with DTSC Aprvl. & District Commitment Letter: Lead-Based Paint/PCBs are the only potential issues requiring further investigation/action prior to grading, or Construction is Necessary to Implement the Response Action, or Response Action & Project Construction will be on separate portions of site not affecting each other HELPFUL CDE PUBLICATIONS School Site Selection and Approval Guide (2000 Blue Book ) School Site Analysis and Development Guide (2000 Yellow Book for determining recommended acres) Educational Specifications: Linking Design of School Facilities to Educational Programs The Form of Reform: School Facility Design Implications for California Educational Reform Guide for Development of a Long-Range Facilities Plan
CDE CONTACTS California Department of Education School Facilities Planning Division 660 J Street, Suite 350 Sacramento, CA 95814-2423 (916) 322-2470 http://www.cde.ca.gov/facilities/ SFPD is planning to move April 9, 2003 to: 1500 Capitol Avenue # 72-520 Sacramento, CA 95814-5006