Credit: Upper Dublin School District.
Residents opposed to a proposed school bus depot behind the Fort Washington Elementary School scored a win Monday night.
The Upper Dublin Zoning Hearing Board voted 4-1 to deny four variances being sought by the Upper Dublin School District to park its school buses and construct a maintenance facility behind the school between Fort Washington and Loch Alsh avenues.
Prior to the vote, zoning board member Patrick Hitchens, who cast the nay vote, made a motion to allow the district’s buses and vans to be parked at the site, but not allow a 10,517-square-foot facility — almost double the 600 square feet allowed — or fence to be constructed. The motion was not seconded.
“I can’t believe it,” said Fort Washington resident Ginny Vitello, who spearheaded the residents’ effort and had hired an attorney to represent them, as she was congratulated by others outside the board room.
“It was the right decision,” she said. “I felt it was so egregious for so long … I think we had a really strong case.
“The district could have avoided spending a lot of money and time if it had looked at other places.”
The school district issued a statement Tuesday morning saying it appreciated the “Zoning Hearing Board’s extensive review of the requested variances for the district’s proposed transportation facility.”
“This outcome will prompt further discussion and consideration of our next steps in securing a facility that meets the critical needs of our transportation team and enables them to provide the best possible services for the 3,500 students and their families who rely on them,” it says.
Discussions will continue at the district’s finance committee and legislative board meetings, the district said, adding, “We encourage those who wish to stay apprised of new project developments to visit our website at www.udsd.org.”
