A proposal for a new public school in the south end of this village received a generally-positive reaction on Monday night.
About 50 people attended a May 13 public meeting at the Rockmosa community centre, while just over a handful of residents asked questions or offered comments.
The Upper Grand District School Board (UGDSB) has proposed a $6.2-million, 34,000 square-foot school at the end of MacLennan Street, just outside the village’s current urban boundary.
The application requires altering the village boundary through Wellington County’s official plan, as well as re-zoning the 2.4-hectare (6-acre) property from agricultural to institutional.
Bill Green, a GSP Group planning consultant for the school board, explained that Rockwood Centennial Public School, on the village’s north side, is over capacity by about 200 students.
The current school was built in 1951, with additions in 1958, 1967, 1973 and finally in 2007.
Green said the UGDSB looked at several locations in the village for the new two-storey school, which will initially hold 308 students, but only the preferred site in the south end met all board and municipal requirements.
Green outlined a number of changes to the school site plan, based largely on the feedback received at a March 27 public open house, including:
– the possibility of adding fencing (either wood or chain link with trees) to mitigate any possible impacts on Gamble Lane lots that back onto the school property;
– removing a turnaround circle at the end of MacLennan Street to avoid “informal drop offs” and ensure all traffic turnarounds take place on the school property;
– lengthening the on-site drop-off area and increasing parking spaces from 41 to 56;
– directional lighting to avoid nighttime impact on neighbours;
– moving an outdoor garbage enclosure farther away from Gamble Lane homes;
– adding a gravel trail from the school to the end of Parkinson Drive; and
– though unwarranted by expected traffic counts, the board and township are interested in adding traffic lights, if the Ministry of Transportation (MTO) agrees, at the corner of Main Street (Highway 7) and MacLennan Street.
Resident Phil McKeown questioned why the board would remove the turnaround circle at the end of MacLennan Street, saying it could create a traffic problem, as most parents will likely drive their children to school rather than have them walk.
“I think you just blew it,” McKeown said of the decision to remove the turnaround.
Green said the plan is for a maximum of three buses for the school, each carrying up to 70 students, but UGDSB officials do not expect all the other students will be dropped off by car.
“Quite a number of homes are within easy walking distance [of the proposed school],” said Green.
Resident Daniella Roncarelli agreed, saying a large number of Rockwood students currently walk to school. She then asked if the new public school would host a French immersion program.
UGDSB planning manager Jennifer Passy said the board will consider a French immersion program as part of the new school’s boundary assessment, which she expects will begin this fall.
In response to traffic and crossing guard questions, Mayor Chris White said if the new school is approved, the crossing guard currently stationed at the crosswalk near Lions Park will likely be moved south to the Main-MacLennan intersection.
But the township prefers traffic lights at that intersection and has lobbied the MTO for the change, White added.
Resident Tim Manley, who said he is pleased with the prospect of a new school in the village, asked about the possibility of shared use of the new school for recreation and other community activities.
Passy said the board has a “very active” community use program and the board will engage the community in possible uses once the building is approved.
Resident Chris Wilkinson expressed some concern about an aggregate licence on the property surrounding the school site.
Passy said the licence is held by a numbered company and while no extraction is currently taking place on the property, all potential hauling would take place along Wellington Road 44, away from the school property.
Resident Ian MacDonald repeatedly asked why village residents were not given any input on where future growth in the village will occur.
“This train’s moving real fast,” MacDonald said of the board’s applications.
He said with the public school in the south end of Rockwood, and the proposed Catholic school and proposed expansion of Rockmosa park in the north, it appears future growth will be taking place “willy-nilly.”
White and councillors Doug Breen and John Scott seemed surprised by MacDonald’s comments.
“This school is 30 years late … there’s a need there already,” Breen said, adding the new building will have no impact on future growth.
“We’re not looking for any growth outside our border,” added White.
Scott agreed, adding the township is just “facilitating what exists right now” as well as the new homes that have already been approved within the village’s current boundary.
UGDSB construction manager Blair Capling said a September 2014 opening remains the goal. He noted it takes about 10 months to build a new school, so the board plans to start construction this summer.
Guelph-Eramosa council will consider the zoning bylaw amendment for the new school on May 21.
