Reading School District asks zoning board for building‑coverage variance to expand elementary school

The Reading School District asked the Zoning Hearing Board on July 9 for a dimensional variance to increase building coverage for an addition at the elementary school at 1200 North 12th Street.

Attorney Ronald Callen introduced site planner Aristides Otero and Wayne Garris, the district’s chief financial officer, who described the scope and rationale for the project. Otero said the existing building coverage is about 45% (the R3 limit is 50%) and the proposed expansion would raise coverage to roughly 60%. He explained the design places part of the parking beneath an elevated addition and revises surface parking to meet dimensional standards, and that several deteriorated modular buildings on site would be removed.

Garris said the district expects the expansion to allow 8 to 12 additional classrooms and create a freestanding cafeteria to improve scheduling and program use. He told the board the existing impervious coverage already exceeds the ordinance — about 82% where the ordinance permits 75% — and that the city’s zoning office has confirmed in writing that no variance is required for the impervious increase because the ordinance allows a 20% increase under the circumstance presented.

Board members asked about alternatives, including building up or building elsewhere; witnesses said building vertically was cost‑prohibitive and that the lot and surrounding development constrained options. The district said it would work with city staff through the land‑development and stormwater review processes and would accept reasonable conditions from the board.

The board took testimony and admitted exhibits; no final vote was taken that evening and members said they would issue a written decision next month.