Williamsport City Council gives nod to development plan for parking, playground areas at Curtin Intermediate School

A project is in the final stage of approval for Curtin Intermediate School to be safer for parents and students at drop-off and pick-up, and to add a new hard playing surface area for outdoor activities and parking spaces.

A preliminary final land development plan submitted by LIVIC Civil for the Williamsport Area School District was approved by City Council for site improvement of the school at 85 Eldred St.

It includes a 22,500-square-foot hard play surface, an 11,625-square-foot parent drop off pick up loop and a 8,750-square-foot bus loop and a bituminous parking area including a total of 48 parking spaces, according to city Bureau of Codes.

The 150-by-150-foot hard surface play area will be installed at the open space at the corner of Mulberry and Huffman Sts.

There are remnants there now of it being used previously as a sports field (an old baseball backstop and old football goal posts). The land development reviewed showed a new basketball court (currently lacking) and several foursquare courts.

The new parking and parent/bus loops should have an immense positive impact on traffic flow through that neighborhood in the morning and afternoon, according to Scott Williams, city planner.

Council President Eric Beiter said this will be a great improvement as far as picking students and dropping them off and told the Sun-Gazette, "I'm glad they are making the investment. The school district has always been a great partner."

"It's gonna add a lot of safety," Beiter said during the meeting. There are plenty of students walking to and from the neighborhood school and not having to cross streets will help, he noted.

Additionally, there was an incident there about a year and a half ago, where a student was hit by a car, Beiter said, glad to see and appreciative of the school district for stepping up to make this happen.

The project includes the required site improvements such as stormwater management facilities, landscaping and site lighting.

The city planning commission issued a favorable recommendation subject to the following conditions.

The finalization of a performance bond or escrow account to cover the installation costs and one year's maintenance of all street and storm drainage improvement, curbs and sidewalks, street lights, street signs, and any other common improvements and facilities deemed necessary by council.

The bond and escrow agreement will include a written agreement.

Before the final plan, the property owner has to sign a maintenance agreement on the stormwater facilities which are to be privately owned.

No zoning or uniform construction code permits will be given without a final recording.