West Penn Township's Planning Commission is recommending that supervisors approve Commonwealth Connections Academy's development plan for the former JE Morgan Antique Car Museum. Commonwealth, which has several locations in the state, hopes to renovate and open the cyber school by Jan. 15. The 10-acre property is located at the corner of Route 443 and Cold Spring Road.

During a meeting Tuesday, the Planning Commission voted to waive a step of the township's plan approval process, which is typically submission of a preliminary plan, subject to supervisors' approval, followed by submission of a final plan, subject to supervisors' approval. With minor conditions to be met before submission, the Planning Commission voted to recommend that the supervisor's accept and review it as a final plan.The plan was reviewed by the township's engineering firm, Alfred Benesch & Co, represented by Jeff DeAngelo and Greg Stewart. Jim Alex, an assistant principal and building manager for Commonwealth's Jim Thorpe location, represented Commonwealth Academy, which used Christine Troxell, Barry Isett & Associates, for its engineering work.Members of the Planning Commission asked for minor clarifications and additions to the plan, such as showing adjacent property owners on the map and providing a "rain garden" to collect rainwater from the building's roof. Presently, the roof drains pipe water directly into the creek. Building a rain garden, which is a rainwater collection area, will reduce the amount of rainwater which is diverted directly to the creek.Members of the Planning Commission also had some questions about lights and parking. Alex agreed that the exterior lights would only be illuminated during the school's hours of operation, which would rarely be later than 8 or 9 pm. Commonwealth plans to expand the existing parking lot to have 68 regular spaces and four handicapped spaces.Alex said that during normal operation, the building will have 50 employees present. Infrequently, about 40-50 students may take tests at the school. At those times, Alex said, only about 15 staff members will be on site, with the others working from home so that plenty of parking spaces will be available.After the meeting, Alex said that Commonwealth Connections Academy administrators are excited about the new location."It's a beautiful setting and it's going to be a place that students will be proud to call their school," Alex said.The West Penn Supervisors are expected to take action on the plan when they meet at 7 pm March 3.