The Durham, North Carolina, Comprehensive Plan, adopted in 2005, establishes a pattern of growth for Durham City, Durham County, and Durham Public Schools, assuring that the jurisdictions share the same vision for the future. The plan identifies schools as part of the area’s vital infrastructure and incorporates a Schools Element. Among other measures, the element provides a policy basis for denying rezoning proposals that push the schools beyond capacity. It also requires that the planning department recommend against zoning proposals that would result in new development exceeding school system capacity.

The goals, objectives, and policies of the plan’s Schools Element address many of the issues related to the integration of land use and school facility planning. Following is a summary:

Goal 1: Provide and maintain sufficient school building capacity for the needs of school children in Durham. Objectives:

1. Establish and maintain level of service standards for public school facilities by type of facility.
2. Develop and maintain current data for the evaluation of the adequacy of school facilities in rezoning requests.
3. Maintain and improve public school facilities as needed.
4. Lessen reliance on mobile classrooms.

Goal 2: Ensure that school facilities are incorporated into the long-range comprehensive planning process so that schools may serve as focal points for communities and neighborhoods. Objectives:

1. Utilize common data sources in the development of the Durham Public Schools’ “Capital Improvements Plan” and the Comprehensive Plan.
2. Locate schools where they may assist in providing community and neighborhood focal points.
3. Consider community character in the design and appearance of schools.

See below for a PDF copy of the entire Schools Element.
(Excerpted from Local Governments and Schools: A Community-Oriented Approach. Click here to access the report and more examples about local government-school district collaboration around community-oriented schools.)