On the Agenda: East Pikeland Elementary Zoning Hearing

As thewas so packed in that the board had to call for a stretch break, tonight’s zoning hearing on East Pikeland Elementary will move to more spacious quarters.

The hearing will be on special exceptions and variances requested by Phoenixville Area School District. The district hopes to expand the existing East Pikeland Elementary building, located on an 11.3-acres site near Hares Hill and Seven Stars roads.

The expansion plans include the addition of a kindergarten center and demolition of a building from the 1960s. The existing 1930s structure will remain. Space is a concern for the school district, and without the expansion, portable classroom trailers would likely be needed on the East Pikeland Elementary site by the 2012-2013 school year.

East Pikeland’s planning commission has already seen the plans, and, with a 5-2 vote, that zoning relief be granted to the school district.

Residents near the site offered up a host of complaints ranging from stormwater concerns to worries about open space loss and more. Seventeen residents formed a coalition and hired a lawyer, and sixteen of those residents were granted party status in the hearing.

A review of all parties wishing to gain party status in the hearing took up the beginning of the first hearing. With so many lawyers and parties part of the proceedings, Phoenixville Area School District didn’t make it through its first witness, David Schraeder, the school district’s architect for the project.

Schrader’s expertise on certain matters was repeatedly questioned and objected to by the lawyers in attendance, making for a lengthy testimony.

At tonight’s hearing, the party status of Kimberton Village Business Association will be considered. The group would like to be part of the hearing due to a parcel of land connected to the zoning application. That parcel sits in the heart of Kimberton village.

In a zoning hearing, the zoning hearing board considers the relief requested—in this case, two special exceptions and five variances—in terms of whether or not granting the relief would be a detriment to the surrounding community. The school district is charged with proving that it needs the relief for more than economic reasons and that the expansion won’t cause harm to the area.

Following the hearing, which may be continued on after Wednesday, the board will render a decision. If the decision is in favor of the school district, PASD representatives will head back to the planning commission for the subdivision and land development process, and then on to the board of supervisors.

Tonight’s hearing begins at 7 p.m. and will be held at Kimberton Fire Company.

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