District moves forward on financing for new complex, pool

The Upper St. Clair school board took steps Monday to finance $8.8 million of $16 million in capital projects, including a new community complex at the high school stadium that will also house district administration offices; an eight-lane swimming pool at the high school to replace the 56year-old, five-lane pool; and completion of the Boyce Middle School Field.

The plan is to borrow the remainder of the funding in December 2018.

The board voted 8-1 to approve district financial consultant Mike Bova of Boenning & Scattergood as bond underwriter and the law firm of Clark Hill as bond counsel.

Last week, a public hearing was held during the township commissioners meeting on the school district’s conditional use and land development application for the natatorium renovation, community complex construction and related site improvements.

A resident objected, mostly to the proposed three-story, 47½-foot-high community complex building, which he said would obstruct his view and lower his property value.

The site is an R-1 single-family residential district, which permits 2½story structures up to 35 feet.

A 12½-foot modification in the code requirements is neededfor the new structure, which would also have a rooftopdeck.

The public hearing was continued until the commissionersmeeting on Dec. 4.

After the school board meeting on Monday, superintendent Patrick O’Toole said if the project is not approved, an option would be to resubmit the application as two projects, which would be costly and cause delays.

If the building height is not approved, the building would be redesigned, he said.

A general timetable calls for construction to start in spring 2018 and be completed in August 2019.