Wedgefield K8 Siting Propagating Urban Sprawl 21815 1
Wedgefield K-8 Siting Propagating Urban Sprawl 2/18/15 1
Future Land Use Map - Wedgefield K-8 Site City Area (Wetlands) • Proposed K-8 school site on Future Land Use Map • All land outside City Area has a land use designation of Rural, Park, or Preservation • Wedgefield area surrounding school: • Is in the Rural Service Area • Has a FLU Map designation of Rural • Has FLU Element designation of Rural/Agriculture • Is Zoned A-2 – Farmland Rural District N 2/18/15 Figure Source: Orange County, Florida 2010 – 2030 Comprehensive Plan – Future Land Use Map Series 1 Mile Radius 2
Future Land Use Map - Wedgefield K-8 Site • Intent of Florida State Statutes chapters 23. 1935 and 1013. 33: • Public schools should be located where ancillary infrastructure exists to support the needs of the facility and “to discourage uncontrolled urban sprawl”. • Comprehensive Plan GOAL PS 2: Make schools the cornerstone of community planning and design. • OBJECTIVE PS 2. 2: Enhance community design through effective siting standards. • POLICIES include: • PS 2. 2. 5: Locate elementary school within reasonable walking distance of homes served by the school. • PS 2. 2. 8: Site school so it is compatible with the Future Land Use Map and with land uses surrounding proposed school sites. ” None of which are accomplished by this location. The site is located in the heart of a mature rural community of large estate lots. Siting a non-residential use in the center of a rural neighborhood does not enhance the community design. N 1 Mile Radius 2/18/15 Figure Source: Orange County, Florida 2010 – 2030 Comprehensive Plan – Future Land Use Map Series 3
Traffic Study - Wedgefield K-8 Site • 83% of Wedgefield students live north of School Site 33% • Aerial Imagery background illustrates school site is in the heart of rural area. 50% 10% 7% Figure Source: From AVACON Traffic Study August 2014 1 Mile Radius 2/18/15 4
Student Population - Wedgefield K-8 • 83% of students within Wedgefield live north of School Site • Most of them beyond 1 mile 33% 50% 10% 7% N 2/18/15 Source: OCPS 1 Mile Radius and AVACON Traffic Study August 2014 5
Master Plan Location - Wedgefield K-8 ¼ acre lots • School is sited in center of “Estates” area. • These are the largest parcels in the Wedgefield • This brings urbanization to the most rural area of Wedgefield 5 acre parcels Now 2 – 10 acre homesteads 1 acre parcels N 2/18/15 6
Rural Location - Wedgefield K-8 Site Contrasting Amenities: 33% • City Area: • Sidewalks throughout • Streetlights throughout • 35 MPH – Primary /25 MPH all others • Underground Stormwater collection • Private Water Utility throughout • Private Sewer Utility throughout • Traditional Suburban Neighborhood 50% 10% 7% • Rural Service Area: • No Sidewalks anywhere • Nearly no Streetlights throughout • 50 MPH – Several / 40 or 35 – all others • Open swale / canal storm water collection • Well water throughout • Septic tank/drainfield throughout • Rural Lifestyle Figure Source: From AVACON Traffic Study August 2014 1 Mile Radius 2/18/15 7
Rural Location - Wedgefield K-8 Site Changes needed for school: • Add sidewalk on Bancroft • Extend potable water 2 miles • Connect to sewer 1 mile away • Erect onsite water treatment / storage plant • Install traffic controls on Bancroft Blvd 33% Changes coming with school: 50% • Add 90% more daily traffic on Bancroft • Introduce inconsistent 155, 000 SF facility • Add outdoor Noise / Light pollution Changes after school arrives: 10% 7% • The community is going need several more enhancements to make school viable asset: • More Streetlights & sidewalks • Open for non-school usage during off-hours • Address Pluris water quality School paves way for urban sprawl • Once the school is sited in the heart of the rural area, it becomes the cornerstone of Wedgefield community. There is no going back. Figure Source: From AVACON Traffic Study August 2014 1 Mile Radius • This results in propagating urban sprawl • This is the wrong location for this facility 2/18/15 8
Future Land Use Atlas – Community Cornerstone • Wedgefield development has no internal land set aside for public use other than small park in city area • There is a 34 acre commercial area on SR-520. • One convenience store • Remainder undeveloped • Former “plaza” on east side of SR-520 • Community holds events in parking area up front • Wedgefield has a private golf course • HOA uses golf course restaurant for meetings • There are no adjacent communities with amenities. • Wedgefield needs a community cornerstone • The school offers this opportunity but it is not the right location. • The center of community activity is the City Area • The school needs to be placed where it can serve as a community cornerstone near to the center of activity City Area N 2/18/15 Figure Source: Orange County, Florida 2010 – 2030 Comprehensive Plan – Future Land Use Map Series 9
Proposed Alternate K-8 Site Long Branch Creek Proposed Alternate Site Alternate Location • Nearly 200 acre site. • Unlimited room for growth. • Excellent access for all modes of transportation. • In walking distance of core student population Current Location N 2/18/15 1 Mile Radius 10
Future Land Use Atlas – Proposed Alternate K-8 Site Proposed Alternate Site Sensible Location • Locates school adjacent to highest density area • Eliminates “urban sprawl” • Sites school within reasonable walking distance • Enhances community design • Ancillary infrastructure exists to support facility needs • Compatible with land uses adjacent to school site • Becomes the community center City Area N 1 Mile Radius 2/18/15 Figure Source: Orange County, Florida 2010 – 2030 Comprehensive Plan – Future Land Use Map Series 11
Student Population – Proposed Alternate K-8 Site Proposed Alternate Site Sensible Location • Majority of Wedgefield Students within mile of school N 2/18/15 Source: OCPS 1 Mile Radius and AVACON Traffic Study August 2014 12
Orange County acquired this parcel 10/16/2014 Room for future expansion Better transportation access School Bus Consistent with adjacent development density Close to core student population in Wedgefield 2/18/15 Orange County acquired this 113 acres 10/16/2014 Auto Walk/Bike 13
Wedgefield Student Statistics Source: OCPS has designed this K-8 to eventually become a Middle School Wedgefield Students will never fill a middle school OCPS will bus in 1000 of 1500 students in middle school from outside Wedgefield Build the Middle School where it is more economical and practical 2/18/15 14
Advantages Transportation Better auto access from outside Wedgefield. Multiple entry points off SR 520 where future students will be coming from. Bus access directly from SR 520 – again where students will be bused from. Connects to existing sidewalk network for a safer route to school for walk and bike. All routes in city area already have street lights. Considerably shorter bus route from outside Wedgefield to and from this location. Thereby reducing transportation cost. Bus transportation for students in rural area Where sidewalks are not present Proximity Closer to core student population in Wedgefield City area. Adjoins Hal Scott and provides joint use with Orange County Parks and Recs for outdoor educational experiences for students. 2/18/15 15
� Advantages � Compatible and Consistent � Eliminates need for extensive sidewalk network throughout Wedgefield Estates. � Where no sidewalks currently exists. � Locates school in area with existing sidewalk network. � It is more consistent with existing surrounding development density. � Suburban residential neighborhood � Future Expansion � Provides Orange County with educational expansion options � Accommodates a second school to handle future growth � Makes the school area the cornerstone of community planning and design. � Room for Orange County to co-locate future public facilities such recreational center, community center, library. � Ability to provide trails connecting nearly Bithlo community. � Utilities � Closer proximity to Pluris potable water plant in Wedgefield � Also closer connect if County water / wastewater services become available in future � Direct Access to Primary versus Secondary Stormwater RDD Drainage Canal 2/18/15 16
Future Land Use Atlas – Proposed Alternate K-8 Site Improvements • Meets many Comprehensive Plan Public School Policies: • PS 2. 1. 1: Encourage the locations of parks, recreation and community facilities in new and existing communities in conjunction with school sites. • PS 2. 1. 2: Where feasible, OCPS and Orange County shall work jointly to colocate public facilities such as parks, libraries, community centers with public schools. Where such co-location occurs, both entities shall reach agreement that permits the school’s use of the public facilities and the public’s use of school facilities for community meetings and sports activities. • PS 2. 1. 6: Links schools, parks, libraries and other public facilities with bikeways, trails and sidewalks. • PS 2. 2. 5: Support and coordinate with School Board to locate new elementary schools within reasonable walking distance of homes serves by the school. 1 Mile Radius N • PS 3. 1. 2: Coordinate with the School Board to ensure that both existing educational facilities and proposed school sites are accessible from and integrated into a planned system of sidewalks, trails, and bikeways. • PS 3. 1. 4: Provide interconnected pedestrian access between neighborhoods to allow direct access to school sites and bus drop-off locations. 2/18/15 Figure Source: Orange County, Florida 2010 – 2030 Comprehensive Plan – Future Land Use Map Series 17
BACKUP SLIDES 2/18/15 18
Lifetime Cost Savings to OCPS • Pluris Water may be deemed unsuitable • County may need to correct water problem • At current site, county would have to take over entire system to fix school water • Which could be very expensive – system is in great disrepair. • At alternate site, county could extend and connect school to public water service • This avoids having to takeover Pluris to fix potential water problems • Transportation Savings – many less children to bus. • Closer for children bused from outside Wedgefield • Puts 52 Acres back on County Tax Roll • New site already county property – no taxes paid. • No RDD Taxes to pay at new site - $13 k /yr for 52 Acres. 2/18/15 19
Public / Ranch Lands in East Central Florida Acreage: • Hal Scott Regional Preserve: 9, 387 Acres • Pine Lily Preserve (PLP): 403 Acres • Long Branch Park (LBP): 163 Acres • Savage/Christmas Creek Preserve: 200 Acres • Tosohatchee WMA: 30, 701 Acres • Orlando Wetlands Park: 1, 650 Acres • Seminole Ranch Conservation Area: 29, 223 Acres • Charles Bronson State Forest: 10, 945 Acres (Includes Little Big Econ SF) • Total: 82, 672 Acres • EPD Protected Wedgefield Wetlands: ? • Deseret Ranch: 290, 000+ Acres * • Other Conservation Elements: > 100’s of Acres * Spans portions of Orange, Osceola & Brevard Counties 2/18/15 20
Public / Ranch Lands in East Orange County Charles Bronson O. W. P Seminole Ranch Christmas Creek LBP Hal Scott PLP Wedgefield Tosohatchee Deseret Ranch There are vast portions of public lands near Wedgefield. Total: 82, 672 Acres Use 200 acres for Wedgefield School. 2/18/15 21
Public / Ranch Lands Highlighted 2/18/15 22
Public Lands in East Central Florida Wedgefield 2/18/15 23
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