The BCCT carries a story about the Stockham Building zoning board hearings: Denied on two counts.
Board denies building plans
By DANNY ADLER STAFF WRITER
A property owner in Morrisville proposed two ideas for the largely vacant Stockham building in the borough: a burlesque themed strip club or a 1,000-square-foot billboard.
Morrisville’s zoning hearing board, though, unanimously denied both proposals Monday night at a hearing.
Stockham Interests LLC originally proposed a first floor French-themed restaurant and a gentleman’s club on the second floor, as well as a fitness center on the third and fourth floors.
The land owner was asking the zoning board for variances to allow adult entertainment in the building at Pennsylvania Avenue and Bridge Street and variances from sign regulations.
But more than an hour into the hearing, Todd Colarusso, a principal with Stockham Interests, said he would kill plans for the “less-than-popular” strip club if the zoning board would allow a 1,000-square foot “soft” vinyl billboard on the side of the building facing Route 1.
“This alternative variance request will allow us to bring in the fitness center on the third and fourth floor … [and] it may very well help us attract a restaurant.”
Many residents spoke out against the gentleman’s club yet seemed to favor the billboard — or at least favor it more than a gentleman’s club.
But resident Barbara Runner said she was wary of the billboard alternative.
“I believe Mr. Colarusso, in my opinion, has threatened this board: Take Option 1 or the lesser of two evils. And I hope you gentlemen will not fall for that,” Runner said.
Stockham Interests denied the charge: “The sign alternative was brought to our attention and we brought it here in good faith as a method to make this building economically viable,” Colarusso said.
The zoning hearing board has 45 days from Monday to give a written decision on the matter, and the applicant has 30 days after that to appeal the decision.
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
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3 comments:
Bold move by the zoning board. Even if you take it at face value that:
“The sign alternative was brought to our attention and we brought it here in good faith as a method to make this building economically viable...”
...it makes me wonder about the business sense of, and their own confidence in, Alternative #1 (aka "the French Bistro/Fitness Center/Strip Club Option"). If Alternative #1 was such a good idea, why didn't they just propose that and stick to it? But I guess it makes good business sense to have fallback positions, and they probably knew a strip club wasn't going to have public support.
Anyway, what I get from this is that the building is decrepit and not economically viable in its current condition. It may sit that way for many more years too, falling further into ruin, unless someone with enough money comes in with a good, wholesome, profit-making plan to renovate it. Would you rather have that than Alternative #2 (Fitness Center/Bigger Street-Level Signage/Soft Billboard on Building Wall)? That's a rhetorical question - I don't know the answer.
Unless Stockham Interests appeals the ruling and .....
Sorry, off topic - from today's BCCT. Even walking district Morrisville's tranportation contract is up $13k over last year due to higher fuel prices. Scintillating reader comments too...
By JOAN HELLYER
Bucks County Courier Times
Local school districts expect to see “substantial” increases in transportation fuel costs in the coming school year because of the increasingly tough economic climate.
In Bensalem, for instance, the fuel expenses could go up as much as $350,000, said Jack Myers, the district’s director of business administration.
The district could end up paying about $1 million in 2008-2009 for fuel for 90 buses making daily runs, Myers said. He anticipates a quadrupled increase from 2005-2006 when the district paid about $250,000 for vehicle fuel, he said.
The story is much the same for other local school systems, officials said.
“It’s killing us,” said Joseph Paradise, business administrator of the Neshaminy School District, which also owns its own bus fleet.
Districts will find out for sure just how much of an additional expense they can expect later this month when transportation fuel bids are opened.
Most local districts that provide bus transportation are part of a consortium facilitated by their respective county intermediate unit. The consortium is designed to help participants secure lower prices for goods than they would if they bid for the products individually. Districts such as Bristol Township and Palisades in Upper Bucks that outsource transportation operations are part of the consortium.
In Bucks County, the 2007-08 contract for a staterequired ultra low sulfur diesel fuel provides for a floating price, officials said. Low sulfur fuel has less impact on the environment than regular diesel.
The going price for fuel when that agreement began in July 2007 was $2.28 per gallon, Myers said. By mid-April, the price had gone up about 50 percent to $3.40 per gallon, he said.
The districts have to wait to see what bids come back for the 2008-09 vehicle fuel contract before deciding what to do, representatives said.
Some districts such as tiny Morrisville are seeing an increase in costs relating to transportation agreements with private bus companies, officials said. The buses are used to transport students to Bucks County Technical High School and for field trips and extracurricular activities.
Morrisville recently negotiated a one-year deal for transportation services in 2008-09 that will cost approximately $13,000 more than anticipated, said Business Administrator Reba Dunford.
The pressing economic circumstances have districts using various techniques to trim their fuel consumption costs, officials said.
Centennial officials, for instance, are evaluating field trips to make sure they synchronize with the class curriculum, said Assistant Superintendent Sandy Homel.
The district is allowing one field trip per grade level in kindergarten through eighthgrade, she said. The trip will be the same for all classes in each grade, unlike previously when individual schools were able to decide where the trip would be to, Homel said.
Bensalem, Neshaminy and Hatboro-Horsham in Eastern Montgomery County are among the local school districts using computer software to map out the most efficient system possible to transport students, they said.
Neshaminy has begun to use the technology to determine if drivers are leaving their buses idle for too long, said Frank Lambert, the district’s transportation director.
It usually happens in the afternoon, sometimes for 15 to 20 minutes, when the drivers are waiting to make their next run, Lambert said.
“They don’t think about it. It’s been a normal thing that they’ve done for years,” he said.
Once the driver has been identified, transportation officials show them the idle time on paper and ask them to work on changing their habits to try to conserve fuel, Lambert said.
Staff writers Rachel Canelli and Manasee Wagh contributed to this article. Joan Hellyer can be reached at 215-949-4048 or jhellyer@phillyBurbs.com.
May 6, 2008 6:40 AM
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Comments To This Article:
David - .
(05/06/2008 )
And do you think these fools on school boards will try and cut other pieces of the budget to make up for higher fuel costs like average people like us have to do. NO, they will spend our tax dollars like drunken sailors like they always do.
- K-Bensalem
(05/06/2008 )
So I guess our school taxes will rise again? Then we can pay MORE in taxes PLUS worry about filling the tanks in our own cars!
Gabriel - Easier said than done
(05/06/2008 )
David, it's easy to criticize but why don't you do something more productive such as attend budget meetings and make specific suggestions. If cutting the budget were simple, board members would do it. But often you're weighing budget concerns against the quality of education, and there isn't always a simple answer. Are your home costs going up? Is gas more expensive for you? Has the supermarket lowered food costs so they're more affordable to your family? Expenses are up for your school district too, and they can't aimlessly cut things. If you think it is that simple, then get in there and help. I'm sure the school board would appreciate your assistance.
- bus service
(05/06/2008 )
I recently learned that Council Rock school district provides school bus service for kids who go to private schools, including pricey schools in New Jersey. Why?
Chuck - bus service
(05/06/2008 )
because private schools in Jersey are better than Council Rock
Gabriel - Special Needs
(05/06/2008 )
Your district may be lacking some program or resource needed by a special needs student (special ed, discipline, etc.). To avoid a lawsuit, your district ships the students to a district that can accommodate their needs. If the parents make enough of a stink, the student can end up someplace expensive, and it's all done on the taxpayer's dime.
- bus service, you should be happy that those kids
(05/06/2008 )
are attending private school, and you are only paying for busing. If they all went to council rock, your taxes would really be up, more teachers, more staff, etc. They are saving you thousands. Oh, and I hear they call the high schools in Council Rock, Heroin High, is this true?
b - Vote no on School Boards
(05/06/2008 )
Nothing good ever comes from the School Boards. They are as pathetic and corrupt as your average politician. Some have been in office far too long to understand the area they are supposed to be overseeing. I'm not a teacher, but I know they treat teachers like second hand citizens. Teachers, who are, in essence, 2nd parents and advisors to the students they educate. Maybe school board members can take a pay cut so they can A) afford changes in transporation systems (greener buses eq, hydrogen power) and B) Teacher's salaries. Using their heads may seem foreign to them, but I'm sure if they make certain sacrifices (do their jobs) they can make it happen.
- School Buses Idling
(05/06/2008 )
With the price of diesel rising daily, it makes me angry when I see school buses parked on roads I take to work, idling, before starting theier runs. It makes me wonder what these drivers are thinking!!! Not only are we taxpayers being squeezed at the pump ourselves, but now, through the school taxes we pay, we must ante up again for school bus deisel that the drivers are burning up needlessly.
- b - you're a dope
(05/06/2008 )
School board members aren't paid, they serve in those postitions voluntarily & without monetary compensation.
- Steve
(05/07/2008 )
How about all the drivers who bring buses home in between runs or run errands with them. I would hope that the districts are keeping an eye on that and confirming that no extra miles are being put on the buses because these teamsters don't want to drive theri cars
moe - moe
(05/07/2008 )
I defenately believe that the idling should be stopped, dumb bus drivers dont even relize it affects there own raises. Council Rock (you uninformed prople) CR started an energy program 3 years ago that is going to help with rising energy costs. So far they have saved 3 million dollars based on the fact of if we did nothing like the rest of the districts. as far as heroin thats another subject and I do believe that starts at home. Dont fret you people in other districts your kids wont have the money for drugs soon!
Dave - Dave
(05/07/2008 )
Get rid of busing all together. Schools are there to teach end of discusion. They are not there to provide transportation, lunches, condoms, etc.
And this from today's Phila. Iquirer:
Editorial: Graduation Requirements
Waste paper
Any Pennsylvania lawmaker who fails to support tougher high school graduation requirements ought to be flunked out of the legislature.
Too many schools are handing out "empty diplomas" to thousands of seniors who graduate without the reading and math skills needed for college or a good job.
This travesty needs to stop now.
Legislators shouldn't listen to those local school districts crying that they should decide when their students are ready to graduate.
They're doing that now, and their track record stinks:
In 2006, more than 56,000 Pennsylvania high school seniors graduated, despite failing state math and reading tests. Many received diplomas for just showing up! How could that happen? State graduation standards have been around since 2003. It happened because districts have been allowed to use local graduation assessments that are often dumbed down.
Statewide, 45 percent of 127,000 seniors flunked at least one of the state tests in 2006, and graduated even though they lacked basic skills. Those disturbing numbers should have lawmakers rushing to enact new graduation requirements that consider the best interest of students. Instead, they're kowtowing to school boards and teachers' unions.
State Education Secretary Gerald Zahorchak has offered a solid plan that would create graduation tests in 10 core subjects. Starting in 2010, students would take reading, writing, math, science and social studies tests. But instead of taking one comprehensive test their senior year on everything they were supposed to learn in high school, students would take a test on each subject at the time they finished that course. That would be less intimidating to students.
Each district would also have to prove that its local assessments met state standards. Only then will a high school diploma have the same value regardless of which district awarded it.
Critics say the subject tests will discourage students, who will then drop out. Are they saying it's better to have students stay in school under the mistaken belief they are getting a real education?
To graduate, students would have to pass six tests or demonstrate proficiency by other means, such as passing the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment. Those who fail a subject would get remedial help sooner and could take several retests. The state would develop a model curriculum for the subjects and increase teacher training.
A pending House bill would block the state from developing the new graduation tests. Some legislators say they don't want to see another set of tests added to those students already take.
They can't see the forest for the trees. The point is to graduate students who can succeed. Taking their pulse periodically to see how they're doing and making adjustments makes perfect sense.
The districts and the state can work out the kinks in this program during a yearlong review phase. The legislature shouldn't be an obstacle. Children's futures are at stake.
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