Traffic Plans Endorsed For School Project

By Andrew Gorosko

Following review of a traffic study prepared for the proposed expansion of St Rose Elementary School at 40 Church Hill Road, the Police Commission, acting as the local traffic authority, has endorsed traffic plans for the project, with some conditions.

The St Rose of Lima Parish proposes an approximately 17,000-square-foot expansion project at the school.

The project would include an additional classroom/meeting room, new offices for school officials, a faculty room and an instructional science facility. Also planned are a gathering hall with kitchen facilities, a gymnasium, stage, a multimedia center including church and school libraries, computer facilities, storage space, and restrooms. An atrium also is proposed.

Traffic engineer Sharat Kalluri, of Wilbur Smith Associates of New Haven, representing St Rose, presented traffic planning for the project to Police Commission members on August 7. That traffic report was prepared for review by the State Traffic Commission because Church Hill Road is a state road.

Traffic flow data provided in the study focuses on periods including the weekday morning rush, the weekday evening rush, the school’s weekday afternoon peak traffic flow period, plus Saturday evenings and Sunday mornings.

Traffic data collected on the proposed St Rose Elementary School expansion project was combined with traffic information collected for two other nearby projects — an office building now under construction at 33 Church Hill Road, and a restaurant/office building now being built at 28 Church Hill Road, according to Police Commission records.

After reviewing the traffic study, Police Commission members endorsed the project, provided that the school buses leaving the site be directed to certain driveway exits to limit traffic congestion on Church Hill Road. Also, commission members decided that the traffic plan must conform with State Traffic Commission’s dimensional requirements for intersections.

The new construction at the school campus would visually complement the existing school architecture through the use of similar building materials. Large windows would provide natural light, as well as views of the parish grounds.

Borough Zoning Official Jean St Jean said August 15 the Borough Zoning Commission has received plans for the school expansion project from St Rose Church. Those plans will be forwarded to the town Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) for review and comment, Ms St Jean said. Because the borough has no planning agency, it forwards such submissions to the P&Z for review.

The Borough Zoning Commission will then hold public meetings to review the school expansion plans.