BOE Letter to Township States Concerns Over Potential Nursing Facility Traffic

In a letter addressed to township administrators, Manchester school officials expressed concern with traffic safety on Route 571 near the proposed site of a controversial skilled nursing facility and asked that they remain updated of any developments.

Opponents of the proposed $25 million facility asked the board at its August meeting to  the Manchester Rehab Realty complex would have on bus safety along the county highway where are located.

Residents had asked the board of education in August to consider the impact the proposed $25 million Manchester Rehab Realty facility would have traffic safety on the county highway which is home to  and .

"As you are aware our primary concern as a board is for the safety of our students, staff and members of the public who visit our schools on a daily basis," states a letter, available on the district's website, signed by school board president Donald Webster and Superintendent of Schools David Trethaway. "While we don’t specifically object to the approval/disapproval of this new facility, we are concerned about the increasing volume of traffic in the vicinity of our schools on Route 571."

The letter states that that transportation staff have noted transportation staff have witnessed "increased speeding and weaving in and out of traffic" while buses are present.

"Therefore, we are asking that you keep us informed of any proposed large commercial, residential, or industrial developments involving the areas adjacent to our schools, especially along Route 571," the letter states. "We would also ask that you keep in mind the impact that these large developments may have on our schools, the 1,300-plus students in them and our busing and parent traffic requirements on a daily basis."

Copies of the letter were sent to Manchester's planning and zoning boards, Chief of Police Brian Klimakowski, Mayor Michael Fressola and Council President Craig Wallis.

Manchester's board of education is set to meet Oct. 19 at 7:30 p.m. in the media center of Ridgeway Elementary School.