Springfield gives final OK to new high school plan
SPRINGFIELD » For the school district, actions by the township board of commissioners marked the end of the beginning, and the start of the next phase which will culminate in a new high school campus near the corner of South Rolling Road and Saxer Avenue.
The commissioners met briefly and approved both the preliminary/final plan for the site as well as conditional use for stadium lights to be moved and remain at the previously approved height of 80 feet.
A small cadre of the project team, led by attorney Don Petrosa, and all commissioners were present for the meeting which lasted less than 30 minutes. This was in comparison to several years and dozens of meetings of the district, various township boards and commissions and the public.
Township Solicitor Jim Byrne framed what was essentially the narrow scope of business for the November session. Noting the wealth of information on the project already received, Byrne indicated the township’s job was to confirm the plan was in compliance with all regulations, and review conditional use standards with regard to the lights.
“We closed the record last week, and there is nothing else to do,” Byrne said of testimony or information. “We can ask for any public comment.”
The handful of residents included several of the stalwarts, but no one offered any additional input at this juncture.
Commissioner Paul Wechsler read the resolution which included 15 conditions, all of which had been discussed by planners and/or commissioners. The majority pertained to specifics of traffic circulation, landscaping related site amenities. Commissioner Ed Kelly read the conditional use order with six conditions which reinforced previously accepted terms of numbers of events/practices and hours of light operation. Both motions were approved unanimously.
School board President Jennifer Lofland was present for this last joint proceeding.
“This is fantastic news. The agreement shows great cooperation by all parties,” said Lofland.
Executive Director Don Mooney, who has been the point person for the district throughout, agreed on the positive advancement, and added, “It has been a process of redesign and change which will benefit both the township and district.
A few days prior to commissioners, the school board held its monthly meeting during which it authorized the issuance of bonds up to $85 million. In addition to three previous bond issuances totaling close to $30 million, the district will have the bulk of financing for the campus project.
At that meeting, Director Doug Carney, who will be stepping down from the board in December, said, “I cannot think of another district that is a better position. We are paying off other debt quickly which enabled borrowing when needed, and maintain a AA rating.”
Mooney explained the time line for the next steps. “The architects are continuing to work on interior and exterior plans. The goal is to go out for cost estimates in December and see where we are in the range we stated in the town hall meetings of between $125140 million. We hope to be done the design by March or April, put the plan out for bids and start construction by fall 2018.”