Middletown supervisors approve Neshaminy High School athletic‑facility renovations with conditions

The Middletown Township Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to grant preliminary/final land development approval for the Neshaminy High School athletic facility renovations (SLD No. 21‑08), a project presenters said would convert multiple fields into all‑season multipurpose turf fields, renovate locker and team rooms, expand restrooms and update the concession/press facilities.

John Terente introduced the district’s application and outlined four requested waivers, including a partial waiver to permit preliminary/final submission in one filing and a waiver of financial‑security provisions. Paul Meade, assistant superintendent and director of administration, said the upgrades are intended to revitalize outdoor facilities that in some cases have not been updated in decades and will expand usable fields for athletics and curricular activities. “This project will revitalize our outdoor fields,” Meade said, adding presenters expect the work to benefit roughly 2,700 students and the wider community.

Athletic director Lisa Pennington described scheduling and playability problems the project seeks to solve and said turf would allow teams and band programs to use fields year‑round. The district described planned improvements to the football, baseball, softball and practice fields, plus renovated tennis courts, a new or modular press box and expanded support facilities.

Engineers explained stormwater will be handled through underground storage and infiltration systems meeting National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES/MPDS) permit requirements; presenters said MPDS approval was obtained on Jan. 13. Representatives said multiple facilities will come online in phases, with bidding anticipated in mid‑ to late spring and construction beginning in summer, and that the field house element could extend work into the following spring.

The motion to grant preliminary/final approval specified that the applicant must comply with Middletown Township subdivision, land‑development and zoning ordinances unless relief was granted, and that all outstanding review‑letter comments must be addressed before final plans are considered. The motion was made by the presiding board member on the record and seconded by Supervisor Payne; the board approved the motion 5–0.

The board thanked the presenters and noted a scheduling conflict had limited attendance by some members of the school board at the hearing. The approval is conditional on the outstanding engineering and solicitor comments being resolved before final plan acceptance.