Residents urge board to monitor large Charlestown development and request new bus transfer point for Lower Villa families

Two members of the public used the meeting’s public‑comment period to raise local land‑use and transportation concerns that could affect district enrollment and transportation planning.

Sherry Lawrence of Charlestown Township told the board her community expects the Charlestown Township Planning Commission to consider a proposal to build 205–389 townhomes at Route 29 and White Horse Road and said neighbors worry the project — if built — could add families who would attend district schools. "There are a lot of Charlestown Township community members... that have a grave concern about building these many townhouses in an area that is not only zoned for commercial," Lawrence said, and she encouraged the board and public to attend the planning commission meeting.

A second commenter, Ellen Davis of Atwater, said about 10 families and roughly 25 students who attend Lovi‑Villa (Lower Villa) are currently routed to transfers that are inconvenient and suggested adding a transfer stop at Charlestown Elementary to provide a safer and shorter commute for those children. Davis said she had researched similar small‑bus arrangements in neighboring districts and asked the district to analyze the request.

Ending: Both comments were received for the record; the board did not take immediate action during the meeting but the items raise topics (enrollment projections and transportation routing) the district typically evaluates through planning and transportation staff.