By SARIT LASCHINSKY

Special to The Press

North Whitehall supervisors were presented a request for waivers, deferrals and the preliminary/final development plan for Schnecksville Elementary School during their Sept. 14 meeting.

Project engineer Scott McMackin, of Cowan Associates, said the project entails land development to upgrade the existing building by removing a portion of the school and constructing an 18,000-square-foot addition.

McMackin said new play areas and a parking lot will be constructed, as well as a new driveway access off Spring Hill Drive to provide additional on-site parking and separate bus and vehicle traffic coming in and out of the school.

He said the development does not anticipate a large population increase for Schnecksville Elementary, but would mainly upgrade the school to meet current requirements and improve access into the building, especially ADA access.

In response to a question about retaining the school’s original facade, McMackin and Jamie Bortz, of KCBA Architects, said the parties involved were investigating the possibility of retaining the facade.

Bortz, however, noted the main entrance was the oldest part of the school and they needed to ensure it could withstand removal of the section of the building around it.

She added if the old entrance and facade could not be kept, they would still be acknowledged in the new design, and said the architects and engineers wanted to keep “as much as possible” of the school’s history.

Supervisors Mark Hills and Dennis Klusaritz approved the preliminary/final plan, as well as all waivers and deferrals for the project.

Chairman Ronald Heintzelman was absent from the meeting.

The two supervisors also approved the parks and recreational rules ordinance, which Solicitor Lisa Young noted included the township’s new accessible use playground and dog park.

She said the ordinance’s new rules would supplement, but not replace, existing park and recreation rules.

Supervisors also heard a presentation from Boy Scout Isaac Daniels, of Troop 57 Neffs, regarding his Eagle Scout project.

He proposed fundraising to replace at least three worn-out benches at Johnson’s Pond with new ones made of recycled plastic, Daniels also wants to replace their concrete bases.

The board approved his project, and also agreed to assist disposing debris from the removed benches.

Additionally, Garges reported the Girl Scouts held a grand opening Aug. 22 of the accessible-use playground and dog park at Kolapechka Park and congratulated the Girl Scouts for their good work.

Klusaritz said the new parks were being used and enjoyed by many parkgoers.