Politics & Government

East Pikeland School Hearing May Last Until at Least October

A decision might not happen until around Thanksgiving.

The fifth session of a zoning hearing on the East Pikeland Elementary School expansion was held Tuesday night, and with more witnesses to go, chances are the hearing will last several more months.

The Phoenixville Area School District (PASD) wrapped up the testimony of Superintendent Dr. Alan Fegley Tuesday night as he faced cross-examination and questions from the zoning hearing board. Next, David Schrader, the project’s architect, will likely be called back for a few more questions.

Then, Planning Commission Chairman John Schott will testify. Schott was subpoenaed by the school district as a witness. Following all of the school district’s witnesses, Andrew Bellwoar, who the township’s board of supervisors is using as special counsel for the hearing, has at least one witness who will testify. A lawyer for a coalition of nearby residents may also call witnesses.

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When asked Tuesday night about when the public can chime in, zoning hearing board Solicitor Wendy McLean said it may not happen until October.

“Public comment is not going to come before the end of September,” McLean stated at Tuesday’s portion of the hearing.

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Another session is scheduled for Aug. 9. It will start at 6 p.m., recess at 7 p.m. for another hearing, and then pick back up again.

School district representatives are hoping to expand East Pikeland Elementary School at its current site at Seven Stars and Hares Hill roads in a project estimated to cost $28 million. Citing the need for capacity and an updated facility for the growing district, PASD’s application before the zoning hearing board outlines four requests for variances and two requests for special exceptions. Requested zoning relief is as follows:

  • Special exception: construction of structures in precautionary steep slope area
  • Special exception: expansion of an existing educational use in the R2 zoning district
  • Variance: exceed the 30 percent disturbance in existing steep slopes; disturbance will be 80 percent
  • Variance: exceed the maximum impervious coverage of 20 percent; proposal is for 40 percent, conditioned upon applicant providing 2.5-acre conservation easement along Kimberton Road
  • Variance: exceed the maximum building height of 35 feet; proposal is for 48.5 feet
  • Variance: provide less than the required 25 percent open space for passive recreation

District representatives are tasked with proving to the zoning hearing board that a hardship exists and that the zoning relief is necessary. The zoning hearing board has 45 days to render a decision after the close of the hearing, which has lasted for more than 15 hours at this point. McLean said after the meeting that a decision may not happen until around Thanksgiving.

Following the 45-day period, the decision by the zoning hearing board can be appealed. If zoning relief is granted, the school district will go back to the planning commission for land development consideration, and the planning commission will make a recommendation to the board of supervisors on the land development plan. The plan will then go before the East Pikeland Board of Supervisors for land development approval.

According to Superintendent Dr. Alan Fegley, the school district has spent “north of $1 million” on the project at this point.

The district hopes to expand East Pikeland Elementary School on the 11.4-acre site where it sits today.

The expansion calls for demolishing a structure built in 1964 and preserving a 1930s structure. If built as proposed, the building would house more than 40 classrooms and a larger cafeteria and gymnasium.

The district’s kindergarten students would also be added to the expanded building if approved as planned. Due to population growth estimates, all kindergarteners in PASD would be educated at East Pikeland for four to five years before being moved to another facility, according to Fegley.

In total, the building’s capacity would be approximately 600 students if approved as presented. The school currently serves approximately 330 students.

Throughout the hearing, attendance by the public has dwindled. Those in support and those opposed , causing a change of venue to Kimberton Fire Company for the second session. The hearing was then moved back to the township building due to a scheduling conflict.

Phoenixville Patch will have details on the superintendent’s testimony in a future article. 


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