Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Transportation School Buses topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commission grants 6‑month temporary permit for 1st Student to station 12 minibuses while full site plan proceeds
Summary
The commission approved a six‑month temporary conditional permit allowing 1st Student to operate 12 minibuses at 405 Sullivan Ave to serve summer programs while the company completes a full site plan, traffic and wetlands reviews; conditions include revised site plans, building and fire‑marshal approvals and an expiration date of Nov. 26, 2026.
The South Windsor Planning & Zoning Commission voted unanimously May 26 to grant 1st Student a six‑month temporary conditional permit to operate 12 type‑A minibuses at 405 Sullivan Avenue while the applicant completes a full site application, traffic study and wetlands review.
Michael Klein, representing 1st Student, said the company has been awarded a five‑year contract with South Windsor Public Schools and requested temporary occupancy to begin summer school operations July 1. "We are seeking temporary and conditional permit approval for the operation itself during the summer school duration," Klein told the commission.
Town staff recommended phasing the project and allowing 12 minibuses on site initially, noting the full request to house more buses will be addressed as part of a subsequent site plan. Staff asked that revised plans show the specific minibuses to be stored, accessible paths, and clarified handicapped spaces, and requested consultation with the building official and fire marshal.
Commissioners pressed the applicant on traffic and safety near the nearby railroad crossing on Sullivan Avenue and on typical arrival/departure times. Sean Pindell, 1st Student's area general manager, said most buses leave within staggered time windows and that the company can adjust routing and timing to avoid creating stacked queues. Pindell also said the company could operate temporarily from a nearby East Hartford/South Windsor facility if necessary.
The permit as approved carries conditions: it authorizes 12 type‑A minibuses on site, requires a revised site plan showing parking arrangements for the 12 minibuses, accessible routes, handicap spaces and signage; requires building department and fire marshal sign‑offs and all necessary permits prior to construction or use; and sets an expiration of November 26, 2026, unless renewed or superseded by a full site plan approval. The commission specified that fuel would be obtained off‑site during the temporary period and that company policy limits engine idling (applicant stated a three‑minute idling policy).
Commissioners and staff noted that a full traffic study and wetlands approvals remain necessary components of the full site application and that the temporary permit limits the current use to the conditions and the 12‑vehicle cap.
