(a) The municipal growth element shall include:
(1) the municipal corporation’s:
(i) future municipal growth areas outside the existing corporate limits;
(ii) past growth patterns;
(iii) capacity of land areas available for development, redevelopment, and in–fill;
(2) the land area needed to satisfy demand for development at densities consistent with long–term development policy;
(3) the relationship of the long–term development policy to a vision of the municipal corporation’s future character;
(4) rural buffers and transition areas;
(5) protection of sensitive areas that could be impacted by development planned within the proposed municipal growth area;
(6) population growth projections;
(7) public services and infrastructure needed to accommodate growth within the proposed municipal growth areas, including those necessary for:
(i) libraries;
(ii) recreation;
(iii) water and sewerage facilities;
(iv) public safety, including emergency medical response;
(v) stormwater management systems sufficient to ensure water quality both inside and outside the proposed municipal growth area; and
(vi) public schools sufficient to accommodate student population consistent with State rated capacity standards established by the Interagency Commission on School Construction;
(8) any burden on services and infrastructure for which the municipal corporation would be responsible for development in areas near to and outside of the proposed municipal growth area; and
(9) anticipated financing mechanisms to support necessary public services and infrastructure.
(b) On request of a municipal corporation, the Department of Planning shall provide technical assistance for the purposes of developing the municipal growth element of the comprehensive plan.