Planning commission recommends approval of Central Bucks South high‑school addition with three waivers

Warrington Township Planning Commission voted to recommend final land‑development approval for the Central Bucks School District South high‑school addition, forwarding the recommendation to the Board of Supervisors with the condition that the project comply with the township engineer's comments and that three technical waivers be granted.

Tom Hannah, capital projects manager for Central Bucks School District, said the addition is part of a broader grade‑realignment that will move ninth graders to high school and provide full‑day kindergarten across the district. He described the project as a mix of general‑education classrooms, science labs and family and consumer‑science spaces. "We intend to start that March 1," he said of the initial construction phase, and the district expects the addition to be online for the 2027–28 school year.

The district told the commission it had discussed Carroll Engineering—s August 15 review letter and that most comments were "will comply" items. Commissioners sought clarification about waivers after the engineer's letter identified four possible waivers and the applicant had requested two. The applicant explained that one waiver (related to pipe‑elevation offsets) likely would not be needed after a revised design, leaving three waivers to be granted by the governing authority; the commission recorded that understanding before voting.

District staff also described construction logistics: bids are expected at the end of September with contract award in October, fencing to isolate contractor work areas, a secured contractor parking area in the rear lot, and coordination with a pre-bid meeting to address truck routing and delivery windows. Residents and commissioners asked for routes that minimize impacts on residential streets; district representatives said most deliveries would likely come via Pickertown Road and an entrance near the stadium and that they would enforce contractor delivery windows.

The commission's recommendation is subject to the applicant's compliance with the engineer's comments and to the three technical waivers discussed on the record. The matter now moves to the Board of Supervisors for final action.