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Planners, AASD at odds over paving of parking lot

District built area before applying for permission

The city Planning Commission this week postponed a ruling on a land development plan for a parking lot from the Altoona Area School District to express dismay after the district built the lot before applying for permission.

The commission will consider the after-the-fact plan next month, after the city’s consulting engineer can review it — along with the already-constructed lot on the 1200 block of Sixth Avenue — to ensure everything was done correctly.

The staff’s initial review showed that the lot was constructed properly, according to Sabrina Appel-McMillen, land use coordinator for the city’s Department of Community Development, and Rob Crossman from the city engineering office.

That doesn’t mean the city is indifferent to the district not submitting a land development application beforehand, said Rebecca Brown, director of codes and inspections.

“(But) it is what it is,” Brown said.

The district approached the city with its plan after it paved the lot, which was on the site of a house demolished in August, after it served as a contractor’s office for the recently completed high school construction project, Brown said.

The lot connects parking lots that had already been built on either side, officials said.

It added 12 spaces.

“Easier to ask for forgiveness than permission,” said commissioner Michael Haire.

“Oops, sorry,” said commissioner Larry Bilotto.

“How do you approve something that’s done?” asked commissioner Jim Dixon.

The city is looking for “procedural compliance” with its subdivision and land development regulations and the state municipalities planning code, said commissioner Dick Haines, the former Blair County planning director.

The city doesn’t want residents to think that the school district receives special favors, which could lead to residents flouting requirements that apply to them, Bilotto said.

Maybe the city could issue a strongly worded letter expressing unhappiness with the failure to get prior permission, Bilotto said.

Maybe it would be better to table a ruling until the engineers can verify compliance with the plan, said Chairman Dave Albright.

The commission came to consensus on that.

The district will work with the city to ensure it is compliant, district spokeswoman Paula Foreman said on Friday, citing Superintendent Charles Prijatelj.

Mirror Staff Writer William Kibler is at 814-949-7038.

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