PIACS Application Close to a Final Vote

After two applications and nearly two years of hearings before the South Brunswick Zoning Board, a vote on the proposed site of the Princeton International Academy Charter School (PIACS) is expected to occur at the next zoning hearing on March 22.

Testimony continued last night before the zoning board, as a crowd of about 100 people sat quietly as PIACS witnesses presented testimony on traffic impact, floor layout and planning for the proposed site of the charter school at 12 Perrine Road.

An estimated 170 students from the South Brunswick, Princeton, and West-Windsor-Plainsboro school districts would begin at PIACS in the first year of operation. Within four years, PIACS’ enrollment is expected to grow to 290 students in the K-5 school.

At last night's hearing, PIACS witnesses were again chided by the zoning board for failing to submit requested documents in a timely fashion.

PIACS engineer Elizabeth Dolan presented a traffic impact study that remained an issue at last night's hearing. After the hearing in December, zoning board engineer Frank Antisell sent additional questions to the applicant about the traffic impact PIACS would have on the Perrine Road intersection with Schalks Crossing Road.

Dolan testified that her responses to those questions were sent to Antisell on Feb. 6. However, the documents weren't received by Antisell until last week, which he said didn't provide much time for review.

One of the issues raised by Antisell was the traffic count for the intersection was performed on a day when school was not in session last June.

"You see a difference when school is in session versus when it's not in session," Antisell said during the meeting. "Right there underlines one of our biggest questions. Is the traffic you're showing here even relevant or correct? Additional counts need to be done when school is in session so we have relevant data we can rely on."

Plans for the school would require Perrine Road to be widened from 12-feet to 20-feet across the frontage of the property. Concerns remain about traffic backup from the Perrine Road-Schalks Crossing Road intersection, which is approximately 480 feet from the school entrance.

During peak hours for traffic at the intersection, close to 1,000 vehicles are projected to be on Perrine Road and Schalks Crossing Road. Projecting a 2 percent growth in traffic per year, by the fourth year of existence for PIACS there would be an additional 65 cars added to the road, with about 350 seconds of wait time at the intersection.

Dolan said going back and performing a new traffic count when school was in session wouldn't dramatically alter the outcome of the original study. As a condition for approval, the applicant would pay for an off-duty police officer to handle the traffic flow during peak hours to reduce backup. 

"Additional data would do nothing more than affirm there is a problem at that intersection," she said.

Board Chairman Martin Hammer said the worst-case scenario that could arise from the additional data would be evidence that a traffic signal should be installed.

"If a traffic signal is warranted this applicant would pay its fair share," said 12 P attorney Edward Boccher. "We've already committed to pay for a police officer to regulate traffic." 

Dolan said there were no studies conducted on the traffic impact to Schalks Crossing Road from an officer stopping traffic to eliminate backup on Perrine Road.

The 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 unused portion of the building would be inaccessible from the inside.

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.

There would be 14 classrooms, five support classrooms for art and music, four faculty offices, a reception area, a nurse's office, and 9 bathrooms. There would be no gym or cafeteria, but there would be a multi-purpose room to possibly fill those needs.

Planner John Chadwick testified on behalf of 12 P and said he didn't believe there would be any negative impact from the charter school on the surrounding area.

"In my judgment there's no question that the public benefit clearly outweighs any substantial impact that could be attached to this application," he said.

During public questioning of the applicant's witnesses, attorney Kevin Sheehan, who represents the three school districts, questioned whether an environmental impact study was ever performed on the building.

Specifically, he asked whether the building was used for industrial purposes, whether hazardous materials were ever stored at the site, and whether there were ever any discharges of hazardous materials at the site.

Boccher said such questions were beyond the jurisdiction of the zoning board and needed to be addressed by the Department of Environmental Protection.

Hammer reminded Boccher that the township ordinance requires an environmental impact study.

"The ordinance requires it and you didn't provide it," Hammer said. “When it's in the ordinance that you provide certain things, and it's still not provided, then it's a fair question. I'm surprised you're not taking the opportunity to answer it."

Boccher added that that he was concerned about prolonging a discussion on the environmental impact because it would open up a line of questioning that's inappropriate, but said the applicant would provide the necessary answers.

"I will continue to insist that items my planners ask for are provided," Hammer said. "This isn't an 11th hour request. You told us it doesn't matter, but we asked for it. So please do answer."

At the next hearing on March 22, 12 P witnesses will return to answer questions about the site plan that still need to be addressed. Sheehan said he will present two witnesses related to traffic and planning on behalf of the opposition. 

There will also be an opportunity for public comment on the application.

The zoning hearing is scheduled for 7:45 p.m. on March 22 in the auditorium at the .