Charter school supporters have taken steps to ensure they have a plan B.
During Tuesday evening's meeting of the Warren County Planning and Zoning Commission, members voted unanimously to forward to the county commissioners a conditional use proposal for an alternate school site in Farmington Township. The property is owned by Brian Haner.
Zoning Officer Gary Snook said the site is located off Rt. 957. The question before the commission, he said, was if the area is a good location for a school.
It lacks municipal water and sewage, Snook said, and there are no plans to upgrade the road to highway standards. However, he noted it is not in the flood zone and does not contain wetlands.
Sugar Grove Township Supervisor Ed Beardsley said the current Eisenhower Middle/High School is also on Rt. 957. In addition, he said it also lacks municipal sewage and water.
If sewage lines are extended to the property, Beardsley said the sewage systems have plenty of capacity. The lines are already as far as one property away from the site, Haner said, and the lines would not have to be extended more than a half mile.
Like the current school, Beardsley said the alternate site would have to use a well system. The locations are just shy of two miles apart, Haner said, and he believes the group's application will be approved to turn Eisenhower into a charter school.
"Speaking as a resident, who wants an empty school?" Beardsley asked.
County Planning Director Dan Glotz said the approval of conditional use would depend upon the completion of all required permits and licenses. That is the first step in the process, he said, prior to design and structure of the school building.
Presumably, Glotz said, the school will need state accreditation. Issues to be considered will include parking, lighting and access, he said.
Prior to the meeting, Haner said whether the alternate site is needed will be up to the Warren County School District. It has been the hope all along to use the current building, he said, but even if it comes to the alternate site the charter school will not be stopped.
The commission planned to hold its next meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 6 in Warren County Courthouse basement break room five.