Plans Approved for Region Two School

The final phase of Centennial School District's massive construction project cleared another hurdle when the Warminster board of supervisors gave final approval Thursday night to the final plans for the Region 2 elementary school, which will be constructed on the grounds of McDonald Elementary.

The greenlight did come with a few conditions, though. School district attorney John VanLuvanee will take the requirements to the school board on May 10. The conditions include an updated traffic signal at the intersection of Reeves Lane and Street Road. The improved light will replace the previous request for adding a left turn lane on Reeves. Such a move would require the widening of Reeves Lane, which would cause the removal of several trees along both sides. 

The district also plans to build a new access road on Street Road and install a deceleration lane leading into Reeves lane.

The township also required the installation of a fence around one of the stormwater basins. Since its depth surpassed the five-foot limit, the waiver on the restricting would be granted pending a fence that would increase safety around the basin.

VanLuvanee expects shovels to hit dirt in 30-45 days. When construction of the Region 1 school in Upper Southampton is finished in fall 2012, the former Davis Elementary students that had been attending McDonald will move to the new school with Stackpole students. Longstreth Elementary will then be closed, with those students moving to McDonald. Completion of Region 2 is targeted for Jan.-Feb. 2013.

In other business, two police officers received promotions at the beginning of last night's meeting. David Erenius, a member of the Warminster police department since 2004, was promoted to sergeant, and Andrew Verderame, an officer since 2000, was promoted to corporal.

The board of supervisors also accepted the resignation of labor counsel David Truelove, who is switching law firms. The board hopes to have a replacement ready for approval by the next meeting, on May 12.