NEW CASTLE Judge upholds council's granting of permit for new high school

The judge says a proposed road will provide enough access to the homes.
By LAURE CIOFFI
VINDICATOR NEW CASTLE BUREAU
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- An appeal filed by four North Hill neighbors has been denied in Lawrence County Common Pleas Court.
James and Bonnie Geddis, John Albano and Dawn M. McCune were asking the court to reverse a city council decision that gave a conditional use permit to the New Castle Area School District for a new high school building.
They maintain their safety will be jeopardized because a public road is being closed for the new school. All four live on or own property behind the proposed school.
School officials want to raze the 91-year-old building and nearby homes to build a campus-style school. They plan to close a portion of Reis Street, now the main emergency vehicle access to homes behind the school.
OK from fire chief: City Fire Chief James Donston initially opposed the plan, saying it would increase emergency response time to that area. He ultimately approved it when school officials agreed to build a new road from the remaining end of Reis Street to East Street.
Judge J. Craig Cox agreed and stated in his decision that the district is providing enough access to the homes with the new street.
The Geddises say they are still worried about safety.
"We are not against the students having a new school. It's the safety. They are shutting us off totally," Bonnie Geddis said.
Another ruling: Judge Cox also ruled on a second matter brought up by the neighbors' attorney Ed Leymarie at a public hearing.
Leymarie said the city erred in giving the permit because it did not have a storm water or sewer management plan from the school district.
Cox dismissed that claim, stating that the district met all zoning requirements needed for the permit.
Attorneys for the city and school district have said that the conditional use permit is contingent on those plans' being submitted before construction begins.