Batavia High expansion plan gets early nod

Plans for additions to Batavia High School were given a thumbs-up by the Batavia plan commission Wednesday.

The commission recommended approval of plans for the addition of a classroom wing, auditorium and field house as well as various renovation plans for the property. Voters approved those additions as part of a $75 million referendum last year.

As part of the construction project, the school will revamp its parking lots and vehicle circulation patterns. About 250 parking spaces will be added and a bus-only lane will be included on the east side of the property.

"We're very aware of the fact that parking is at a premium," said Steve Caliendo, the Batavia school district's associate superintendent for operations.

The plan will keep buses and cars dropping off students separate from those picking up, Caliendo said. The north parking lot will only be for students, while faculty and parents dropping off students will use the south parking lot.

City staff members suggested that the district add more parking on the west side of the campus. The hope was that people coming to sporting events wouldn't be parking in the nearby neighborhoods.

Caliendo said the space might be used to relocate the school's tennis courts, but could be paved for parking if that doesn't happen.

The tennis courts and other sports fields could also be moved off-campus, he said.

The new classroom wing would be one of the first things to be built. School officials said they hope to break ground in May or June and have it ready for classes in the fall of 2009.

The plan now goes to the city council's community development committee before going to the city council for a final vote.