Sec. 1. 20-A MRSA §15908, sub-§5 is enacted to read:

5.__Neighborhood schools.__The state board may approve only those school construction projects that are proposed to be sited in a growth area designated in a comprehensive plan and zoning ordinance adopted pursuant to and found consistent with the procedures, goals and guidelines of Title 30-A, section 4347-A by the Executive Department, State Planning Office.__In the absence of an adopted, consistent comprehensive plan and zoning ordinance, the state board may approve a school construction project that is proposed to be sited in an area served by a public sewer system, an area identified in the latest Federal Decennial Census as a census-designated place or a compact area of an urban compact municipality as defined under Title 23, section 754.__If suitable property is not available within a municipality's designated growth area, an area served by a public sewer system, a census-designated place or a compact area, the state board may not approve the school construction project unless the municipality within which the school construction project is located adopts a comprehensive plan and zoning ordinance that designates the area within 1/2 mile of the boundaries of the property as a growth area and adopts a capital improvement plan to provide the public sewer, public water, sidewalk and multiple-use path infrastructure necessary to support a compact pattern of neighborhood growth.__The state board shall work with the State Planning Office to prepare and adopt criteria governing applications under this chapter to define "compact pattern of neighborhood growth" and the required infrastructure, including public sewer, public water, sidewalks and multiple-use paths.

SUMMARY

This bill encourages the building of schools only in areas of a municipality that already are served or will be served by a public infrastructure, such as sewer and water systems, sidewalks and bicycle paths.

This bill allows the State Board of Education to approve school construction only if the site is within an area that is a designated growth area, an area served by a public sewer system, a census-designated place or a compact area. For a site meeting none of these criteria, the bill requires adoption of a comprehensive plan and zoning ordinance by the municipality before the state board may approve a project.