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Comprehensive Plan Public School Facilities Element School Planning and Shared Costs By coordinating the planning of future schools with affected local governments, the school district can better identify the costs associated with site selection and the construction of new schools. Coordinated planning requires the School Board to submit proposed school sites to the School Planning Technical Advisory Committee (SPTAC) for review and approval. The SPTAC consists of representatives from various government agencies. Prior to the SPTAC review, the affected jurisdiction may coordinate with School District staff to perform its own technical review of the site. This analysis permits the School Board and affected local governments to jointly determine the need for and timing of on-site and off-site improvements necessary to support each new school. Because Indian River County is undergoing significant infrastructure development, analyzing the infrastructure needs of planned school sites is necessary. With this process, shared funding for capital improvements for school sites can be determined according to the responsibility of each party for each specific school site. Necessary infrastructure improvements may include: potable water lines, sewer lines, drainage systems, roadways including turn lanes, traffic signalization and signage, site lighting, bus stops, and sidewalks. These improvements are assessed at the time of site plan preparation. Approval conditions can cover the timing and responsibility for construction, as well as the operation and maintenance of required on-site and off-site improvements. Any such improvements should be in keeping with the financially feasible capital plan adopted by the School Board. Other cost-effective measures should be considered by local governments during the process of formulating neighborhood plans and programs and reviewing large residential projects. During those processes, the County and the cities can encourage developers or property owners to provide the School District with incentives to build schools in their neighborhoods. These incentives may include, but are not be limited to, donation and preparation of site(s), acceptance of stormwater run-off from future school facilities into development project stormwater management systems, reservation or sale of school sites at pre -development prices, construction of new school facilities or renovation of existing school facilities, and provision of transportation alternatives. Coordination The Florida Statutes require the School District and the local governments to consider co - locating public schools and public facilities. The co -location and shared -use of facilities provide important economic advantages to the County, School District and local governments. During the preparation of its Educational Plant Survey, the School District can identify co -location and shared -used opportunities for new schools and public facilities. Likewise, co -location and shared use opportunities should be considered by the local governments when updating their comprehensive plan, schedule of capital improvements and when planning and designing new or renovating existing libraries, parks, recreation facilities, community centers, auditoriums, learning centers, museums, Community Development Department Indian River County 38