Plans for Region Two School Move Forward

The Warminster Planning Commission unanimously voted Wednesday night to continue proposed plans for the construction of a new McDonald Elementary School building which many residents fear will defile the community.

The commission’s five members listened to proposals from Attorney John A. VanLuvanee, who represented Centennial School District, as well as concerns from several local residents.

Many residents voiced fears concerning an empty lot of land that will border Street Road once the new school building is constructed. The empty land will belong to the Centennial School District once the plan is approved.

Community members applauded Chairman Gerald Derosa when he asked that the school board use the open lot for baseball fields and not to subdivide the land. “We don’t want to see a bunch of town houses here” Derosa said.

"There’s nothing definitive proposed for that area at this time as part of this approval process” said VanLuvanee. VanLuvanee suggested the Planning Commission place the concern in their recommendations.

Residents also worried that traffic congestion would increase due to a rise in pedestrian foot traffic and the four additional school buses that would be entering and exiting the school daily.

VanLuvanee assured those in attendance that the traffic would be lessened due to a new entrance being constructed on Street Road.

Other concerned residents wanted Reeves Lane to remain intact, especially concerning the large sycamore trees that border the road.

Megan Holt, of Reeves Lane, said she was at the meeting, “making sure that the district maintains traffic flow well on their property and preserv[es] the neighborhood’s ground.” Holt has one child currently enrolled at McDonald, and another will be attending the school in about a year.

Residents gasped when shown the projected result of widening Reeves Lane to include a left turning lane. All the sycamore trees were removed in the picture to allow the space required by PennDOT for a turning lane.

VanLuvanee said that the school district did not see it necessary to widen Reeves Lane and that it would be leaving Reeves Lane and the sycamore trees intact.

VanLuvanee also assured the Planning Commission and community members that a new water treatment basin that is to be built would be gated. One commission member showed concern for children who will be playing at the proposed playground, which would be located directly next to the treatment basin.

The treatment basin can contain up to five feet of standing water. The water must drain completely within 72 hours to meet township requirements.

The school district was not able to give community members many specifics. Many residents wanted exact details on the plans and promises from the district that VanLuvanee was not able to make on Wednesday night.

VanLuvanee did explain the proposed plans that the school district has, as well as its interest in what the neighborhood residents want. All parties seemed hopeful by the close of the meeting.

Bart Trowbridge of Citation Lane commended the commission “for moving things along in such an efficient and timely manner and listening to our fears.”

Holt on the other hand is “still worried,” she said. 

The new school building will house up to 900 students as part of a plan that will condense six elementary schools in the area, down to three.

A meeting with the Board of Supervisors is set to take place next Thursday to address many of the recommendations made by the Planning Commission and address any changes made by the school district.