The recently approved rezoning of the Greg-Roy property in Herndon from 35 single-family homes to a high-density development including 82 single-family units, 106 town homes and 244 multifamily units could have added up to $1.76 million to the Fairfax County Public Schools capital improvements coffers had a formula for charging voluntary cash proffers for schools been in place.
As it is, the schools received nothing for the redevelopment, located behind McNair Elementary School. The redevelopment will add about 135 more students to the school system than had been expected under the previous zoning.
Currently under consideration by the county Planning Commission is an amendment to the code, which would change how county planning staff evaluates rezoning cases. Contained in the proposal is a voluntary cash proffer system for public facilities including schools.
The school system favors a formula based on the cost of building a new school and the number of students each unit in the new development is expected to generate. But changes to the amendment by the Planning Commission have members of the School Board wondering if the school system will ever see any money.
"I'm glad it got this far, but my feeling is it may be on life-support soon," said School Board member Christian Braunlich (Lee) of the cash proffers section.
ORIGINALLY, the portion of the amendment dealing with the cash proffers for public facilities included a proposed provision that would have allowed the impact to schools to be offset by the developer paying a fee determined by the school system and endorsed by the county Board of Supervisors.
The Planning Commission, after a public hearing last week, struck that portion of the amendment and instead replaced it with what the School Board feels is vague language giving control to the supervisors without mention of a set formula. The new language sets priorities for proffers with cash proffers at the bottom of the list behind the dedication of suitable land, the construction of public facilities, and in-kind goods or services.
JIM ZOOK, director of the county's Planning and Zoning Department, cautioned the School Board during a work session Thursday, June 27, not to pin their hopes on cash proffers to solve the system's capital improvements shortfall.
"We really don't know what amount could be derived because there are so many factors," Zook said. "Proffers are voluntary. Each neighboring jurisdiction goes about implementing proffers a different way and please don't think that because there is a $20,000 guideline, they collect all that money."
Loudoun, Prince William, Spotsylvania and Stafford counties each have a voluntary cash proffer system in place which suggests anywhere from $8,287 to $15,322 specifically for schools, depending on the county, said Tom Brady, assistant superintendent, Department of Facilities Services. Loudoun suggests $21,424 for public facilities without singling out schools, he said.
Fairfax County schools staff is suggesting $7,100 per unit for single-family homes; $5,600 per unit for town homes and $3,400 for multifamily units as voluntary cash proffers for schools.
Zook said the county has already had a cash proffers system in place and has received commitments from developers building in the south end of the county to provide cash proffers for the schools. He said the money is not received until the development is completed, however. Thus far, none of that money has been received by the school system.
"Please don't forget, land while not cash, is a significant proffer," Zook said.
The Planning Commission deferred making its recommendation on the code amendment until July, after which the amendment will go before the county Board of Supervisors for a public hearing followed by a vote.