Plans to renovate and expand Brooke Elementary School are moving toward the land-development process, with Limerick Township officials examining how the project could affect traffic, parking, and circulation around the school.
Allison Klingler of GKO Architects presented the preliminary plans during the Limerick Township Board of Supervisors meeting Tuesday, September 1. The project is being designed to accommodate the Spring-Ford Area School District’s plans to offer full-day kindergarten and move fifth grade to the elementary-school level.
The school currently has about 380 students. Under the proposed changes, enrollment is expected to reach approximately 661 students — an increase Klingler described as about 71 percent.
The project is currently in the architectural planning and schematic-design phase, and the district is preparing to move into land development while continuing to coordinate with Limerick Township and Montgomery County.
Two-Story Addition Planned
The proposal calls for a two-story addition at the rear of Brooke Elementary with approximately 12 classrooms, along with smaller instructional spaces and additional restroom facilities.
The project would also reclaim the school’s existing large-group instructional area, or LGI, for other uses and add a small cafeteria expansion that would allow two grades to use the cafeteria at the same time.
Larger windows are also planned to bring additional natural light into the building.
Traffic Plan Focuses on Rear Pickup Area
Traffic circulation was a major topic during Tuesday’s discussion.
The current plan calls for parent pickup and drop-off to move to the rear of the school, using the existing asphalt area near the playground. Vehicles would enter the area, loop through the site, and use two traffic lanes to double-stack vehicles and keep the pickup line off Lewis Road.
Buses would use the front parking lot and designated spaces. The number of buses serving the school is expected to increase from seven to 12.
Board Chair Connie Lawson asked about the potential effect of the increased enrollment and traffic on N. Lewis Road, including whether the nearby intersection at King Road and Country Club Road should be considered.
Klingler said a traffic study is expected as part of the land-development process. She said the township’s traffic engineer will determine which intersections are included, while the township can raise additional intersections for consideration if necessary.
Parking and Event Traffic
The proposed site includes 109 parking spaces. Klingler said the zoning code also requires an additional 100 parking spaces for overflow on a flat, stable surface.
Possible overflow areas include the rear playground hardtop and the bus parking spaces when buses are not present, particularly during events such as back-to-school nights, concerts, and book fairs.
Klingler said the district currently anticipates approximately 103 parent vehicles during pickup and drop-off. She said the project team does not expect all of those vehicles to be on site simultaneously. A preliminary circulation diagram shows space for 101 vehicles.
Pedestrian Path Also Discussed
Lawson pointed out a dirt path behind Brooke Elementary near the track that appears to be used by students coming from neighborhoods along N. 7th Avenue. She asked whether the informal route could be turned into a formal path. Klingler said that possibility could be discussed with the school district.
Project Moves Toward Staff Review
The board of supervisors did not make a final land-development decision on the project Tuesday. The plans are moving forward for continued design development and coordination with township staff.
Klingler said the district is also expected to eventually bring plans for Limerick Elementary before the township, although that project is not anticipated to involve as lengthy a process as this one.
