If history isn't kind to you, just rewrite it. QCSD does. Like the sad story "Where the sidewalk ends", about the Frontgate development, and Ronald Reagan Drive, handed you in the February 14 edition of The Free Press by former school director Bob Leight, and new superintendent Lisa Andrejko. It's a crock. And, unlike them, I have the documents to prove it.
I used to own the 100 acres that are now home to the new Strayer Middle School, the proposed Frontgate age-restricted development, and the planned Reagan Drive, which will provide a much-needed mini-bypass around Quakertown borough. I also was part of the unprecedented multi-community group which, in 2000-01, created a master plan for that entire area. Leight, who was on the board that unanimously approved the purchase of 65 acres for Strayer in 2001, claims that now "circumstances are certainly different", and "the possibility of a great big development on the other side never came up". Andrejko, who didn't even arrive here until 2007, bemoans that Reagan has grown from "basically a beefed-up driveway" to a "major thoroughfare". The record shows that they are both wrong.
Frontgate, and the placement of Reagan Drive, didn't just sneak up on QCSD. The plan, including the school, homes, and road, was a joint effort of dozens of professionals representing Richland Township, Quakertown Borough, Quakertown Area Planning Commission, Bucks County Planning Commission, Army Corps of Engineers, Upper Bucks Chamber of Commerce Transportation Committee, Boucher & James Engineers, Mast Engineering, DWKCB Architects, Carroll Engineering, SEPTA, East Penn Railway, PennDot, and FEMA.
And - most importantly - QCSD. Not Bob Leight. He didn't bother to attend any meetings. But directors Linda Martin and Gary Parzych did. And Superintendent Jim Scanlon, Assistant Supers Jim Newcomer and Doug Fraley, Business Manager John Clark, and Facilities Manager Mike Butryn. And the district's architect/land planner. The Morning Call and Intelligencer both reported on January 12, 2001, that Scanlon stated that it was important for the district to purchase my land quickly because several housing developers were eyeing it. And Clark was reported as acknowledging that other projects were planned for the area.
Although QCSD knew that the neighboring tract was about to be developed, they actually had the opportunity to prevent it, but declined. On January 26, 2001, I sent Scanlon a fax: "I saw in the paper today that the school district may need to do some additional expansion. If more land is necessary in this area, I have the 35 or so acres across the RR tracks from the land you are buying. I have not yet signed an agreement with the potential developers, and would make it available to QCSD on the same terms as the first parcel. At the very least it would be a great investment against future population increases (not to mention the cost of raw land). Interested?"
The price? About $8400 per acre. According to The Morning Call, Clark said that the 30 other potential school sites would have cost between $40,000 and $92,000 per acre. With that savings, $2-$5.5 million, the district could easily have afforded $294,000 for the additional 35 acres, be covered for future expansion, and prevent any other development. Or have a fabulous investment. But they foolishly turned it down.
Even back then, QCSD suffered from what still plagues it today - poor business judgment, and a shocking inability to see beyond the end of this week. Decisions reflect what is easiest for the moment, with little consideration for long-term effects: trendy Integrated Math became a dismal failure; a hideously expensive teacher contract greatly upped the ante for support staff; and rejecting perhaps the biggest land bargain in Richland history allowed a housing development on a road that QCSD could have had completely to itself!
But Greenway Development was thrilled to buy it, paying far more, and in November, 2001, they submitted a plan showing 402 age-restricted units. In addition, they agreed to build Reagan Drive, with a new, safe railroad crossing, for about $1.5 million. QCSD had no complaints, since the concept would provide millions of tax dollars, and no additional kids in the schools. In fact, the overall project solved everyone's needs:
QCSD got a new middle school, with easy access, and able to share facilities with the adjacent elementary school. Richland, Quakertown, and the planning commissions wanted housing that would allow empty-nesting seniors to stay in the area. FEMA was pleased because a potential flood plain was eliminated with runoff control. The school district, along with SEPTA and East Penn, wanted to replace the dangerous over-the-hill crossing on Fairview Avenue, which most busses could not use. Everyone wanted a new road to relieve congestion in that area. And the key was that the road, and crossing, would be paid for primarily by Greenway, not the taxpayers.
As for what Andrejko called "basically a beefed-up driveway", The Intel of February 9, 2001, reported that Scanlon explained "This driveway would eventually become part of a new connector street between Fairview Avenue and Station Road. The school district is joining forces with Richland Township, the borough of Quakertown, The Quakertown Area Planning Commission, and the Upper Bucks Chamber of Commerce to push for this connector road. The district's board of directors also unanimously passed a resolution (yesterday) asking the Bucks County Planning Commission to consider the proposed road as one of its projects. Not only would it allow better access to the new middle school...but it would also alleviate traffic congestion in a rapidly developing area. The road would allow traffic to move between Route 313 and Station Road without moving through the center of Quakertown. Officials have said the project would also involve replacing the 'potentially dangerous' Fairview Avenue railroad crossing".
In other words, QCSD was the driving force behind creating the "major thoroughfare" that Andrejko is now complaining about. Everything is happening exactly as the school board and administration planned. And, once again, we find that we just can not trust what QCSD tells us today. The sidewalk may end, but the deceptions have not.