Board of Adjustment approves Saint James subdivision, clears Winston School relocation with conditions

The Springfield Township Board of Adjustment voted unanimously to approve application 202516, allowing Saint James Catholic Church to subdivide its 5.05-acre property at 45 South Springfield Avenue so the Winston School can occupy the former parish school and the parish can build a new parish center.

The board’s decision, taken after testimony from parish leaders, the school principal and technical experts, grants conditional-use and bulk relief for the private school and related variances for lot size, open-space and impervious coverage. The board attached conditions requiring compliance with professional reports, revisions to some drawings and operational limits to address neighborhood concerns.

“Mister Haley” (applicant counsel) led the presentation and said the proposal preserves the school building by selling it to the Winston School while creating a new parish center on the rectory site. Father David Gaichedo Santos, pastor of Saint James, told the board the parish wanted an adaptive reuse that keeps the school building intact: “The proposal from Winston School to keep the school building as a school building was and is a blessing.”

Technical witnesses described how the plan will work. Jeffrey Cadoff, the site engineer, testified the overall…