Testimony Begins on New PIACS Application

The ongoing fight to open a charter school in South Brunswick resumed Thursday evening, as the discussion centered on concerns about the traffic impact from the school on the surrounding area.

Testimony began before the South Brunswick Zoning Board of Adjustments for a new application filed by developer 12 P & Associates LLC for the proposed location of the Princeton International Academy Charter School (PIACS) at 12 Perrine Road.

Approximately 50 people were in attendance for the hearing, which began at 7:45 p.m. and lasted until 11 p.m.

The new application is for PIACS alone, as the  Numerous issues were raised throughout over concerns about the two schools sharing facilities and whether wear and tear for shared uses would be billed to the appropriate school. 

Zoning board President Martin Hammer opened the hearing by stating that the previous application had no bearing on the hearing, and testimony was to be directed only towards the new application. Hammer narrowed any questions from the public to be based solely on testimony pertaining to land use issues from the new application.

"Their reasons (for filing a new application) are not a concern of this board," Hammer said. "The fact that this is a charter school has nothing to do with why this application is in front of this board."

The hearing was the first before the zoning board since the unsuccessful lawsuit filed by PIACS against the South Brunswick, Princeton and West Windsor-Plainsboro school districts. On Nov. 18, the Office of Administrative Law ruled against  in their lawsuit against the . The suit  and the use of governmental positions by the three districts to fight the opening of PIACS.

 found that the school districts have "discretionary authority to perform all acts and do all things, consistent with the law and the rules of the state board, necessary for the lawful and proper conduct, equipment and maintenance of the public schools of the district."

PIACS petitioned the Department of Education for an acceleration of the 45-day statutory waiting period in a request for acting Department of Education Commissioner Chris Cerf to issue a final ruling on the suit prior to Thursday's hearing, but the request was denied (see attached pdf).

Once the hearing began, PIACS presented testimony on a new site plan and a traffic impact study for the location.

"We will demonstrate the negative criteria has been satisfied and the board should approve this application," said 12 P attorney Edward Boccher.

Boccher pointed out that all issues related to the safety and reuse of the former liquor distribution warehouse falls under the Department of Education and the Department of Community Affairs.

The new site plan for the 44,827-square-foot building calls for 25,351-square-feet to be used for educational purposes, while the remaining space would be unused pending future expansion. The building's current office and warehouse space are to be converted into classrooms. An 11,000-square-foot playground will also be constructed with a 4-foot high fence surrounding it.

A reconfigured traffic pattern into the school calls for an entrance on the east side of the property to separate cars and buses as they arrive, with buses moving towards a student drop off area. Vehicles would exit the property on the west side.

The school's main entrance would be designated for students arriving by bus, while a side entrance would be designated for students dropped off by their parents. An estimated 80 percent of the 170 students who would begin at PIACS in the first year of operation would be bused in. Within four years, PIACS’ enrollment is expected to grow to 290 students in the K-5 school.

The bus drop off area would be able to accommodate six buses at once, with overflow handled by the inbound driveway, according to witness testimony. 

Engineer Elizabeth Dolan presented a traffic impact study that remained a major point of contention throughout the hearing. Plans for the school call for Perrine Road to be widened from 12-feet to 20-feet across the frontage of the property. However, concerns were raised about traffic backup from the Perrine Road-Schalks Crossing Road intersection, which is approximately 480 feet from the school entrance.

"The applicant needs to prove that the road can handle what they're proposing," said zoning board engineer Frank Antisell.

Dolan said the time to make a left-hand turn at the intersection, which only has a stop sign and no traffic light, would be about 200 seconds. She said that could cause a backup of approximately 13 cars on Perrine Road during the peak traffic hours 7 a.m. to 8 a.m., 2:45 p.m. to 3:45 p.m., and 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Attorney Kevin Sheehan, who represents the three school districts, attempted to question applicant witnesses during the public portion of the meeting, which was objected to by Boccher.

Boccher stated that the districts do not have standing as an interested party under municipal land use law.

Sheehan said that because buses from the districts will be required to transport students to the school, it gives the districts the right to determine whether the site is adequate. 

After being granted permission to question the witnesses, Sheehan pointed out that the traffic impact study may have been conducted when school was not in session. With a two-way flow of close to 1,000 vehicles on Perrine Road and Schalks Crossing Road during peak hours, Sheehan asked how the roads could possibly handle that volume of traffic backup without a signal.

Boccher said PIACS would pay for an off-duty police officer to handle the traffic flow during peak hours to reduce backup. Questions were raised as to whether one officer could handle the volume of traffic on two roads, while remaining safe from oncoming traffic during the process.

During the public portion, residents also asked about the impact the added traffic would have on feeder roads, such as Ridge Road, which could also be affected by school traffic. Dolan said there were no studies conducted on surrounding roads.

Concerns were also raised about how a school with 90 parking spots, 290 students, and 40 staff members could handle parking during events at night. Dolan said PIACS would stagger its events over "a couple of nights."

South Brunswick resident Donna Kramer questioned how the school would be able to handle the volume of cars for an event once PIACS reaches 290 students, even if the event was spread over multiple nights with only 90 parking spots.

Dolan pointed out that the number of parking spots at the location is twice what the ordinance requires. Concerns were also raised about the affect winter weather and snow piles would have on traffic flow. Dolan said the impact of winter weather was not part of the study.

At the conclusion of testimony, the next PIACS hearing was scheduled for Feb. 23, at which point floor layout and planning testimony is expected to be heard. Boccher requested a hearing for a date in January, but was informed the board didn't have any openings. A request for a special meeting was also denied by Hammer.

However, should a spot on the agenda for a meeting in January open, the next hearing would be held on Jan. 19, as long as enough time is given for public notice. 

The PIACS Debate

Click here to learn more about the various aspects of the PIACS program and how it compares to the education offered by the South Brunswick School District.

Click here to learn more about the issues surrounding PIACS and a private school that has been proposed to share the 12 Perrine Road location with PIACS.  The private school, YingHua International School, was founded by PIACS lead founder Dr. Bonnie Liao.

Click here to learn more about the debate surrounding the public's right to vote on the approval of any new charter schools in their community.