Leet zoning hearing board considering appeal of ruling on proposed Quaker Valley high school

Leet zoning hearing board members have called for a special meeting to consider appealing an Allegheny County Common Pleas judge’s ruling regarding a proposed high school.

Senior Judge Joseph James issued his six-page opinion on Nov. 28 overturning the township’s zoning board decision, which in March refused to grant a special exception for the 167,000-square foot project.

In his opinion, he said that Leet’s zoning ordinance expressly permits a special exception for school construction.

ZHB denied the Quaker Valley School District’s application for a special exception in February largely due to the district’s plan not having an emergency access road to and from the property.

It has 30 days from the judge’s ruling to file an appeal.

Board members scheduled a special meeting 7 p.m. Dec. 22 at the township office, 194 Ambridge Ave.

ZHB solicitor Vincent Restauri said they will issue a statement on the judge’s ruling at the start of the meeting. No other matters are expected to be addressed at the meeting.

Quaker Valley School Board member Giani Floro, a former Leet resident, said he was disappointed to hear about the possible appeal.

“I’m very disappointed that resources of Leet Township are being wasted,” he said. “All of the issues (that the ZHB have) are really appropriate for the planning commission. The role of zoning is to determine if this is a school within the meaning of the zoning ordinance.

“The school district wants to put a school in there, and these people are fighting us putting a school in. The majority of students in Leet Township go to Quaker Valley, and it’s those students that are going to be hurt by these delays because they’re not going to be getting a new high school to go to school in. I don’t believe (this possible appeal) is driven by the majority of residents in Leet Township. I’m very disappointed that’s the course that they’re proceeding on.”

The proposed $100 million school is on 150 acres of land off Camp Meeting Road. It straddles Leet, Edgeworth and Leetsdale.

Floro said the district continues to work with architects and engineers on school design. A more detailed plan is expected to be submitted to Leet’s planning commission in March.