Zoning Board To Hear Charter School Expansion Plan

A request for variances to allow the expansion of School Lane Charter School into the former Cornwells Skating Rink is scheduled to be heard Thursday by the township Zoning Board.

The zoners also are expected to hear yet another plea for a controversial single-story office building on Garden Lane at Street Road.

Officials at School Lane Charter need variances to allow a school in a general commercial zone along with others to exceed impervious surface coverage and for about nine parking spaces to be closer than allowed to property lines and rights-of-way.

Last month, the Planning Board offered positive comments on the sketch plan for the project which has an estimated cost of $5 million.

School Lane CEO explained to the planners that school officials want to renovate the former rink building next door to its current facility at 2350 Bristol Pike. The expansion would be used for the K-8 school's youngest students, grades kindergarten through K-2 students, as the school hopes to add 300 students to its 596. The single-floor, 26,719 square-foot building would include 14 classrooms. It would be linked to the current school by an enclosed walkway.

Schade has said the school hopes to open the expansion in August 2012.

Meanwhile Zafar Chugtai wants to build a small office building on Garden Lane, also known as Castle Drive.

Project attorney Tom Hecker previously said a plan rejected by the zoning board in April was the fifth version, and a sixth plan might be forthcoming.

The zoning of the parcel was previously changed to a designation that allows professional office buildings. But the lot is an irregular shape, prompting the need for several variances, some related to required setbacks.

And neighbors have expressed concerns about worsening traffic and stormwater management problems.

The plan calls for the demolition of a dilapidated structure on the property.