Planning Commission Notes: Church Construction and Wilcox Tech Renovations

The Planning Commission Wednesday night considered applications for building at several city sites and expressed concern over construction plans for Wilcox Technical High School.

Testing related to an application for construction of a 30,000-square-foot self-storage facility at 99 Broad Street revealed lack of adequate water pressure in the area. The problem, caused by a rotted water pipe, will cost about $100,000 to repair, according to Planning Director Dominick Caruso. Poor water pressure is a fire safety issue that affects not only the proposed storage facility, but also other structures in the area, Caruso said. The Planning Commission recommended granting the applicant an extension and alerting the Public Utilities Commission that the pipe needs to be repaired.

The commission also approved construction projects at two city churches: 1) renovations to the sanctuary, classrooms and parking area at New Life Church, 242 and 262 Bee Street, and 2) construction of a parking lot at Church of God, World Mission Society, 85 Winthrop Terrace and South Fourth Street.

In other business, Caruso raised concerns about renovation plans for Wilcox Technical High School, 298 Oregon Avenue. “Wilcox is proposing a really big addition,” Caruso said. But because the technical school is located on state property, city officials have no say in the project. “The state didn’t ask for municipal input,” Caruso told the rest of the commission.

Plans include an addition in the back of the school and renovation of an existing building. Workers could break ground on the project as early as December, Caruso reported.

The commission’s main concerns relate to parking and bus traffic. Plans call for parking along the entire front of the building, about 10 feet from the property line. Caruso suggested a better place for parking would be under the power lines on the side of the building. The current plan raises “serious safety concerns” about bus traffic, said Commission Chair Enrico Buccilli.

The committee agreed to send a letter to the state Department of Public Works requesting friendly input into the project. Copies of the letter will also be sent to state congressional representatives.