Chester Upland wins variances to rebuild athletic complex; board approves

Chester Upland School District won zoning relief Thursday to rebuild and expand its athletic complex at 1100 West 10th Street, including permission for an artificial turf field and larger grandstands that push the site’s impervious surface to about 30.5% in a conservation district that otherwise limits cover to 20%.

The district’s attorney, David Shaffawitz, told the Chester City Zoning Hearing Board the project at the STEM Academy campus would add an artificial turf football/soccer field, an eight‑lane running track, new home and visitor grandstands, concession and restroom facilities and a roughly 21,000‑square‑foot athletic training building. The school sought two variances: one for impervious‑surface coverage and one to allow 341 parking spaces where the code’s minimum would be 593 for the proposed use.

The board’s approval came after engineering testimony from Michael Galante, the district’s site design engineer, who said the existing grandstands are past their useful life and the improvements are intended both to modernize facilities and to increase seating so spectators are not forced to congregate on nearby Conquered Road. Galante said the turf is treated as impervious under the zoning code, so the project will include an underground stormwater management basin sized to meet Chester’s stormwater ordinance. "We’ll size it to meet the requirements of this Chester City stormwater ordinance," he said, and the applicants will address remaining technical details through the subdivision and land‑development review if the variance is granted.

Board members asked about equipment storage, lighting glare and the construction timeline. Galante said up to about 2,000 square feet of equipment storage will be provided under the new grandstands and that the project team plans a Musco‑style lighting system with photometrics to demonstrate no off‑site glare. He estimated the approval and permitting phase could take roughly six to eight months with planning‑board submission planned for June; demolition of the old stands could begin in winter.

During public comment, Thelma Green Miller asked whether nearby tenants, particularly at the Wellington senior development behind the school, would be notified about dust or other construction impacts. Shaffawitz said the district would work with the city to provide notice to adjacent property owners when the construction schedule is firm and would supply a contact for questions.

A board member moved to approve the variances; the motion was seconded and carried. The board said a written decision will be issued within 45 days.

The approval allows the district to proceed to the next design and permitting steps; the application record includes the submitted site plans, notices and the district’s stormwater and parking analyses.