SJHS Upgrading

is changing with the times with an education center featuring a 240-seat auditorium and computer lab, among other things.

The Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously approved the school's request recently, and groundbreaking is scheduled for later this year, said William Fitzgerald, school president. The panel met in the Town Hall Council Chamber.

"We believe this will allow St. Joe's to move into the new century," said Attorney Ray Rizio, representing the school.

"It's a spectacular campus. It's kept up. It's not littered with new classrooms. This is to enhance the education of the current students," he added. Enrollment would not increase.

The addition will be about 30 feet high and be invisible from three sides, Rizio said.

"This is not something that's going to create additional parking," he added.

The panel did not raise issues with the proposal.

Town Planner Bill Levin agreed. "I think he's really addressed all the questions I have," he said.

But the approval was conditional. The school must get a certificate of occupancy for a storage house and press box unrelated to the education center. The contractor who performed the work failed to obtain one, Levin said.

Rizio added that, "St. Joe's has been an excellent neighbor. This application will not affect traffic."

He noted that the school was built in 1963 and an education center wasn't a requirement back then.

"You didn't think about computer labs, peforming arts. It's a whole different environment," Rizio said.

But the traffic statement caused several neighbors to complain about speeding and driving habits. The residents later conferred with school officials outside of the chamber.

The zoning board did debate the driving issue briefly. Board Vice Chairwoman Arlyne Fox said speeding has become a problem throughout town.