NEW CASTLE School project sparks concerns

School officials outlined plans to show that the project complies with city zoning laws.
By LAURE CIOFFI
VINDICATOR NEW CASTLE BUREAU
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Fire and other emergency vehicles could be delayed anywhere from 45 seconds to a minute from reaching homes behind a proposed city high school, the city's fire chief says.
"To those people not involved, 60 seconds does not seem like a very long time. To the person who has their house on fire or a relative lying on the floor in cardiac arrest, 60 seconds is forever," Chief James Donston said.
Donston was one of the witnesses called in a five-hour city council public hearing Tuesday to consider the school district's request for a conditional-use permit.
City officials are also considering the district's request to close Reis Street.
What's behind this: District officials want to build an educational wing in an area zoned for high-density residential use and would require a conditional-use permit from the city to start construction. They want to start work in spring 2002 on the project, which involves razing 14 nearby homes.
The second phase, planned for 2003, would raze the high school and construct a new arts wing. The education and arts wings would eventually connect in the area now known as Reis Street.
Schools Superintendent Joseph Martin Jr. and architect David Esposito outlined those plans to illustrate that they are in line with city zoning laws.
Here's a concern: Donston said, however, those plans would take away the fire department's most direct route to 36 homes behind the school.
"Time is of the essence. The longer it takes you to get there, the longer it takes to put [a fire] out," Donston said.
Several residents living behind the school also told city officials they fear the slower response times for emergency responders.
A petition signed by 52 people in that neighborhood who oppose the Reise Street closing was given to city council last month.
School officials say they will build an access road -- only open to emergency vehicles and delivery trucks -- on their property to give better access to the remaining portion of Reis Street.
Using that route would mean only a half-second delay from the fire response time, says a study commissioned by the district.
The fire chief disagreed, saying it would mean three extra turns for the firetrucks. He also noted that there are concerns that school delivery trucks would block the road.
The lawmakers said they should make a decision on the conditional-use permit and the request to close the street March 22.
Ethics question: That vote might not include Councilmen Mark Elisco and Rick DeBlasio. Both men agreed not to participate in the public hearing because the city is waiting for a Pennsylvania Ethics Commission decision to determine if they can vote on school matters.
Elisco is an assistant principal in the district and DeBlasio is married to a district school principal.
The ethics commission decision might come by March 21, city solicitor James Manolis said.