Contact: Pat Young
Franklin County Planning & Inspections
Phone: (919) 496-2909
Fax: (919) 496-2637
215 East Nash Street
Louisburg, NC 27549
www.co.franklin.nc.us

FRANKLIN COUNTY

Press Release

Franklin County Adopts Adequate Public Schools Ordinance
Ordinance will help balance residential growth with public school capacity

Louisburg, NC, June 23, 2006: Franklin County Commissioners have adopted an innovative land use planning tool designed to help channel growth and prevent overcrowding at Franklin County schools. On June 19, 2006, the Board voted 6-1 in favor of the Adequate Public Schools Ordinance (APSO) designed to tie the pace of residential development to the ability of the County to provide adequate public school facilities to support such development.

Each applicant for a residential building permit in Franklin County, effective July 1 of this year, will be required to obtain a Certificate of Adequate Public School Facility (CAPS) prior to receiving a building permit. CAPS will only be granted if the elementary, middle, and high schools serving the area where the permit is requested have adequate capacity, defined as 100% or less of school facility capacity as defined by the State Department of Public Instruction.

If a school is over capacity in the attendance district where the proposed home will be located, the permit applicant will be granted the building permit when adequate school facilities are available, as specified in School Board’s Long Range Facility Plan. If the developer wishes to proceed with building in advance of the provision of adequate school facilities by the County, they may pay an Advancement of Capacity (AOC) payment that partially offsets the capital costs of building new school capacity. Properties in existing subdivisions have 12 months to apply for a building permit before the APSO becomes applicable to them.

Franklin County is the 9th fastest growing County in the State, and approved over 1,200 residential subdivision lots in 2005.

For additional information on the Adequate Public Schools Ordinance, contact Franklin County Planning and Inspections Director Pat Young at (919) 496-2909 or visit www.co.franklin.nc.us.

Franklin County Government is committed to effective and innovative public services for all Franklin County citizens and businesses.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, JUNE 23, 2006
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