The individuals who have signed this petition would like to request the denial of case ZON-22-0072. These individuals live within the community that will be affected by this decision. We will show case ZON-22-0072 would impact the area negatively. We understand that future plans for the surrounding area include developments of single and multi-family residence but the plan for this particular section will not be harmonious with the surrounding area. The following information will provide the supporting evidence.

Point 1) Over-crowded schools

  Currently there are three elementary schools (Alderman, Gallberry, and Gray’s Creek) that feed into Gray’s Creek middle school, which in turn feeds into Gray’s Creek High school. The current enrolled student data was collected from the Planning Department of Cumberland County ISD and the max students data was collected from the South Central Land Use Plan (Plan recommendations of March 2015) on the Cumberland County website 15 November 2022. 

 In General, all schools need more structural expansion with increased staffing. There are studies that show overcrowding does a disservice to the education of our youth (see at the bottom for references).  

Alderman Elementary has 616 students enrolled with a possible max capacity of 750. A staff member at Alderman stated that the following points of issues with current student capacity:

 School is overcrowded for the structure

Lack of resources for students who need more support

No separate gymnasium from the cafeteria

Only one restroom for all female staff

No AIG classroom (must use cafeteria)

No art classroom

Gallberry elementary has 912 students enrolled with a max capacity of 900. 

Gray’s Creek elementary has 450 students enrolled with a max capacity of 495. A staff member stated that this is the most students the school has had and they could not see how they would be able to increase enrollment without the facility expanding.  

Gray’s Creek middle school has 1,127 students enrolled with a max capacity of 1,000. 

Gray’s Creek high school has 1,400 students enrolled with a max capacity of 1,270. A parent who spoke at the Joint Planning Board meeting stated his child did not have a seat in one of his classes due to the class size. A staff member at Gray’s Creek high school stated that the following points of issues with current student capacity:

Avg 33-35 students per class, some classes are more
No more room to expand

Point 2) Endangered species 

Residents within the area have had endangered bats inhabit part of their home and witnessed them flying to the lot in question for this case. We would like a conservationist to perform a study to ensure there are no endangered species within the designated area. We would also like for the study to include the Red Cockaded woodpecker. From our understanding the summer is the best time to assess these species.  

Point 3) Traffic

  Currently there is only one entrance and exit to the Cypress lakes subdivision, middle school, and High school. This area is highly congested during the drop off, pick up, and sporting events. There have been observations of contention between drivers trying to merge onto celebration drive from the schools or cypress lakes residence and the drivers traveling down the road due to the heavy traffic during these times.. Celebration Drive has become a hazard for pedestrians crossing it when crossing guards are off duty. Residents of the proposed apartment complex will have difficulty trying to merge onto celebration drive going towards chicken foot road.  

Point 4) Cypress lakes housing development  

 The Cypress Lakes subdivision is still growing and the increased population of this area needs to be calculated with other proposed developments due to traffic and over-crowding of the school system. 

Point 5) Building Site suitability

  The following information was collected from the South Central Land Use Plan (Plan recommendations) of March 2015.

  On pg 34, Map 7 (also see below), the map shows that the building site suitability for part of this area is severe suitability, this area includes three planned buildings based on the proposed building map shown at the Joint Planning Board meeting. There are also parts of the proposed area deemed moderately suitable and the emergency road has a majority of it that is deemed SEVERE. 

Severe limitations are defined as the soil properties or site features are so unfavorable or so difficult to overcome that special design, feasibility studies, significant increases in construction costs and possibly increased maintenance may be required.

Moderate limitations are defined as soil properties or site features are not favorable for the indicated use and special planning, design, or maintenance is needed to overcome or minimize the limitations.

Point 6) Hydric soils

The following information was collected from the South Central Land Use Plan (Plan recommendations) of March 2015.

On pg 36, Map 9 (also see below), the map shows that the same are where building site suitability is SEVERE the soil is classified as Hydric soil.

Hydric soils data shows that approximately 30% (13,604 acres) of the soils has a potential of being classified as wetland, while 8% (3,756 acres) have some wetland soil characteristics.

Point 7) Removal of habitat 

Based on the commercial goals for South central Land Use Plan: Discourage commercial development in wetlands, Special Flood Hazard Areas, and other environmentally sensitive areas.

Rep stated that the runoff pond on property would act as wetland; this can be an inaccurate statement because runoff ponds need runoff water to be filled. If there is no runoff than there will be little water and thus no wetland. The definition of a wetland are areas where water covers the soil, or is present either at or near the surface of the soil all year or for varying periods of time during the year, including during the growing season. The type of soil and vegetation that grows are also factors that define an area a wetland.

 

Link to reference Adopted South Central Land Use Plan 02-03-2016.pdf

References for class size:

Akerhielm, Karen. 1995. Does class size matter? Economics of Education 14 (3): 229–41.

Angrist, Joshua and Victor Lavy. 1999. Using Maimonides’ Rule to estimate the effect of class size on scholastic achievement. Quarterly Journal of Economics 114(2).

Finn, Jeremy D., and Charles M. Achilles. 1990. Answers and questions about class size: A statewide experiment. American Educational Research Journal 27 (3): 557–77.

Hanushek, Eric A. 1999. Some findings from an independent investigation of the Tennessee STAR experiment and from other investigations of class size effects. Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis 21 (2) 143–63.

2002. Evidence, politics, and the class size debate. In The Class Size Debate, ed. Lawrence Mishel and Richard Rothstein, 37–63. Washington D.C.: Economic Policy Institute.

Hanushek, Eric A., and Steven G. Rivkin. 2006. Teacher quality. Handbook of the Economics of Education, Vol. 2 ed. Eric Hanushek, Finis Welch, 1051–78.

Hoxby, Caroline M. 2000. The effects of class size on student achievement: New evidence from population variation. Quarterly Journal of Economics 115 (4): 1239–85.

Krueger, Alan B. 2002. Understanding the magnitude and effect of class size on student achievement. In The Class Size Debate, ed. Lawrence Mishel and Richard Rothstein, 7–35. Washington D.C.: Economic Policy Institute.

Krueger, Alan B., and Diane M. Whitmore. 2001. The effect of attending a small class in the early grades on college-test taking and middle school test results: Evidence from Project STAR. The Economic Journal 111 (468): 1–28.

Rivkin, Steven G., Eric A. Hanushek, and John F. Kain. 2005. Teachers, schools, and academic achievement. Econometrica 73 (2): 417–58.