Levittowners who reside on the roads bordering Gardiner's Avenue Elementary School had no idea the school district planned a bus driveway that in some instances would come within inches of their property line until two signs went up last week announcing that the construction was to begin July 24. The bus driveway itself and the perceived exclusion of neighborhood input has prompted residents on Gardiner's Avenue and Book and Club Lanes to contact their local legislators and the district to try and prevent the construction. As of press time the construction has been delayed and a community meeting was planned for Thursday morning of this week.

The phones in the offices of Assemblywoman Kathleen Murray and County Legislator Dennis Dunne have been ringing continuously since neighbors have been made aware of the exact proposal. Originally many of the residents assumed that the construction just meant lengthening the driveway in the front of the school.

Most of the residents in the area did not know the entire plan until they received an anonymous letter outlining the plan in their mailboxes. The mailing read: "ATTENTION NEIGHBORHOOD: Do you know that the Levittown School District will be constructing a bus driveway behind your home beginning July 24, 2000? The proposed bus driveway will be built along the south side of the school, across the back of the school, and come out on the north side of the school. You will have idling buses practically in your backyard. If you are opposed to this project, you must call Mr. Joe Ewald, the building maintenance manager...You must call before the work begins. According to Mr. Ewald, the notice in front of the school was put there so neighbors 'could give their input before the work begins.' Therefore, if you are opposed to this project you must call ASAP."

Many of those who called the school district found that they received conflicting reports depending on who they spoke with and turned to Dunne and Murray to assist them.

One of the major concerns raised was the fact that there was no community meeting informing them about the project. In an e-mail to Dunne, Jeanne Gebert, a resident on Book Lane, questioned, "How can schools make decisions like this without first discussing them with their community neighbors? And, who do they think they are? Is it not our tax money that pays for such things? I don't remember seeing anything, nor hearing anything, about a driveway going 'behind the school.'"

Both Murray and Dunne quickly did what they could to get more information and make sure that the project does not begin until there is community input.

The opposition itself revolves around several issues. Jerry Fiorenza, a Club Lane resident, claims that when he spoke with one of the assistant superintendents he was told that the driveway was 40 feet off his property when in fact when Fiorenza measured it himself, he found it to be only 10-11 feet off his property line. While he agrees with the district that the children's safety is the top priority, Fiorenza says that in the 17 years he has lived in his home there has never been a safety problem and that by constructing this driveway it is hurting the value of his property. "By doing this they're crippling me," he stated. Worried about his family and with a new baby on the way in September, Fiorenza said, "I'm not staying in this place with a bus behind my house. I didn't buy my house with a bus there." Fiorenza, like many of his neighbors is concerned about the noise pollution and fumes that are associated with having buses idling right in his backyard. He notes that in the past he has always voted for the school budget and encouraged his friends to do the same and now feels betrayed by the district for their actions.

"I'm opposed to it because I know it's going to be noisy and there will be fumes from the buses," said Helen Schwartz, a Book Lane resident. Both she and her husband have had heart attacks and her daughter has bad asthma so Schwartz has health concerns in addition to the fact that she works nights and the noise of the buses in the morning will be a disturbance.

"I don't really feel that it's necessary, it's just another way of spending money that I don't feel is necessary," said Schwartz. "Put it into the education of the children, never mind the driveways."

Gebert, who has been one of the most vocal residents in the area on this issue, noted that there are several reasons she is opposed to the project. "First of all, I don't think it'll alleviate any of the problems the school is saying it will alleviate and I think it would be a very costly thing to do unless you really plan something. Why do we need to be throwing money away on an ill-conceived idea? Number two, I am a cancer survivor, I don't need diesel fumes in my backyard, my next door neighbor has asthmatic conditions, they don't need it," said Gebert.

When asked if she could envision compromising with the district, Gebert responded, "Absolutely." One possibility she thinks should be considered is lengthening the driveway in the front of the school and possibly adding an extra traffic signal on Gardiner's Avenue. "Think it through before you upset the whole neighborhood over this," was the advice she had for the district.

Assemblywoman Murray, who by the beginning of this week had already received phone calls from 15-20 Book Lane and Club Lane residents, walked door to door in the surrounding neighborhood, including Gardiner's Avenue, Book, Club, Baker, Turf, and Curb Lanes and delivered 125 letters updating residents about the project. She assured them that the project was suspended pending a community meeting. In the letter she also explained that the school board and district officials have ultimate say over whether the project moves forward. In addition, Murray encouraged residents, as taxpayers who pay for all school district projects to attend any community meeting that may take place. "You may in the end applaud the project or you may disagree with it; however, the community meeting will be your opportunity to learn more about the project itself," stated Murray in the letter to her constituents. She noted that in walking door-to-door, none of the neighbors she spoke with were in favor of the proposed bus driveway.

"The common theme expressed by all the neighbors was the fact that there was a lack of communication, from their perspective on this project. There were a broad range of concerns, from child safety to environmental impact, to real-estate values, to name a few and also just a basic concern about whether, in fact the project is really needed from the get-go," said Murray. She noted that she is pleased that the district has agreed to a community meeting and that they have, at least temporarily halted the project, at the same time expressing the hope that the district seriously considers the concerns that will be expressed by the neighbors.

Many of the neighbors are unhappy about the scheduling of the meeting, which was planned for 10 a.m. on Thurday July 27. Several believe that the district planned the meeting at that time so many residents would be unable to attend because they would be at work, thus in the district's mind indicating a lack of interest or concern on the part of the neighbors.

The superintendent of the Levittown School District did not return multiple phone calls from the Levittown Tribune about the proposed bus driveway.

"I think it's an issue that's blossoming, not fading and I certainly hope that the school district can raise the comfort level of the community and modify its project, if necessary, to address the community's needs," concluded Murray.