Town of Summerville Planning Area - BCD Council of Governments

Community Facilities ElementThe Community Facilities Element is an inventory of existing facilities that are available for use byresidents, visitors, and businesses of the Summerville Planning Area. This inventory includes a variety ofpublic facilities such as schools, social and recreational facilities, emergency and public safety facilities,and other services offered by the town or its contractors.BackgroundThe Community Facilities Element will assist the Town in understanding what facilities are currentlyavailable to residents of the Summerville Planning Area, and will serve as a tool that residents and localgovernment officials can use to assess potential needs, both within the Town limits and within thePlanning Area. The presence, or conversely the absence, of certain community facilities may influencewhether people may choose to reside in a community or whether a business chooses to locate there.Increasingly, people (and to a lesser extent, employers) look at quality of life factors, such as good schools,park and recreational facilities, walkability, and quality neighborhoods when considering relocationoptions. For certain user groups, the presence of healthcare and eldercare options may influencerelocation choices.As the population of the Summerville Planning Area continues to increase, resources such as schools,police and fire protection, and parks and recreation facilities must be expanded to support the needs ofthe town, its residents, and its businesses. The following information will help the Town to make informeddecisions and direct future growth within the Planning Area.Existing ConditionsPublic Safety and Emergency PreparednessThe role of public safety and emergencypreparedness officials in the town is a largefactor in the quality of life of the SummervillePlanning Area.Above: The Summerville Public Safety BuildingThe Summerville Police Department is comprisedof 80 sworn officers spread over a variety ofsections, including Command Staff, patrol,investigations, rescue, traffic, school resource, K‐9 unit, emergency services, and reserves.Additionally, there are an additional 20graduates of the town’s Civilian Police Academythat assist the department. These resourcesCommunity Facilities Element Page 1