Official Sources of Information

• Edgmont Township’s official Meeting Minutes will be HERE once approved.
• Rose Tree Media School District’s 1/19/23 presentation is HERE.
• The School District’s Application is HERE.
• Project information from Edgmont Township is HERE.
• Supporting information from the School District about the need, the process and the plan for a new elementary school is HERE.

Unofficial Meeting Recap

Purpose and Background

Edgmont Township’s Solicitor announced this would be the first presentation the School District makes to the Board of Supervisors. He explained the Supervisors have not taken any action yet, nor are they required to do so.

The Solicitor went on to clarify that the proposal submitted by the School District in March 2022 includes two components: the zoning text amendment application and the subdivision and land development application. The purpose of this meeting is for the District to present their proposal in support of the text amendment application and give the Supervisors an opportunity to ask questions and provide comments.

The Board of Supervisors will hold a future meeting, the purpose of which will be to either take additional comment from additional people, consider new information, and/or render a decision as to whether or not the Supervisors will continue to discuss and allow the text amendment to move forward. If moving forward, there will be a public hearing just as if the Board of Supervisors had proposed their own amendment.

Presentation by Rose Tree Media School District

Rose Tree Media School District presented its zoning text amendment proposal to the Board of Supervisors. The full presentation is HERE. This presentation covered:

• Why a new elementary school is needed in RTMSD, including data on current and projected enrollment at Glenwood ES and Rose Tree ES and a review of the challenges overcrowding is currently causing in District elementary schools.
• Why Edgmont Township is the logical location for a new elementary school.
• The rationale that led to the selection of the proposed site on Middletown Road, including a review of why the locations where Edgmont’s Zoning Code currently allows a school were ruled out.
• Why neighborhood schools are appropriate in residential districts, including an overview of the viability of neighborhood schools, an inventory of public schools located in residential districts in neighboring Townships, and the zoning districts where schools are permitted in neighboring Townships.
• How the School District’s proposed text amendment to allow a neighborhood school in R-1 is supported by Edgmont’s Zoning Code and by feedback from Township professionals.
• Characteristics of the proposed elementary school building, including a review of how the District has responded to requests made by Edgmont Township regarding the building’s exterior design.
• A review of the District’s Proposed Text Amendment, including a discussion of what the amendment DOES and DOES NOT do.

Source: RTMSD Public Presentation (1/19/23) [excerpt]

Township Feedback

Lindsey Conan, member of the Board of Supervisors, requested and received a copy of the school district’s proposed text amendment.

Public Feedback

Participation was limited to Edgmont Township residents and taxpayers and was separated into three sections: questions, comments from those in favor and comments from those opposed:

• Approximately 17 Edgmont residents posed questions to the School District and Township. (Questions will be answered at a future meeting.)
• Approximately 17 Edgmont residents spoke in favor of the School District’s proposal.
• 1 attorney and approximately 16 Edgmont residents spoke in opposition to the School District’s proposal.

The official meeting minutes published by Edgmont Township will include the complete list of commenters and topics. The minutes will be available HERE once approved.

Next Steps

Ron Gravina, Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, said the Township would pick a date for the next meeting and asked if the School Board would grant another 30 day extension. The School District’s team granted the extension.

The School District’s proposal is expected to be an agenda item at the next regularly scheduled meeting of the Board of Supervisors on February 14, 2023 at 7:30PM.

save edgmont, no zoning change,