Future Parkside school's effect on Clark Street extension discussedCiting concerns with traffic flow and a need for more information, the Powell City Council voted unanimously Monday to table the issue of vacating the city's master street plan to accommodate a proposed elementary school.Park County School District No. 1 is interested in building a new Parkside Elementary School north of Clark Street in acreage currently used for agriculture. Though the school is still at least 15-20 years down the road, the district is looking at purchasing the land now.

However, the city's master street plan shows an extended Clark Street through the property — and if the city insists on extending Clark to the north, the district won't purchase the land.

“If there's a road through that property, we're not going to buy it,” said Kevin Mitchell, superintendent of Park County School District No. 1, during Monday night's public hearing.

Mitchell said the land was identified in an in-depth study as one of the best locations in Powell for a new elementary school.

Mitchell explained that the district doesn't have the money to build an extended Clark Street in the development.

Councilman Jim Hillberry said the city doesn't want to stand in the way of the school plans, but “we also don't want to curtail our community and traffic flow.”

The city's master plan, adopted in the late 1980s, shows Clark Street extended to the north and curving to the west toward the Elk Basin Highway. City leaders envision an extended Clark Street as an ideal north-south route through Powell.

After reviewing the master street plan last month, the city's Planning and Zoning Commission proposed extending Clark Street as a straight route to Lane 8.

Whether the road curves to the west or is a straight route to Lane 8, “Clark Street needs to go through one way or another,” said Councilman Don Hillman.

Dean Roberts, a former Planning and Zoning Commission member, told city councilmen that the commission spent a lot of time developing the master street plan in the late 1980s.

“This was laid out for how we thought the town would be developed in the future,” Roberts said.

Without a Clark Street extension, city leaders worry about traffic problems in future years.

Councilman John Wetzel asked Mitchell if the school district completed a traffic study, or if it would.

“I would like to see how the buses would come and go, and what it's like for the average person coming through,” he said.

Wetzel said he is worried about a school creating an influx of traffic on Absaroka and Seventh streets, which are already congested on weekday mornings.

Mitchell said the district isn't planning to do a traffic study.

“We can bring our buses through from the county to keep from being in residential areas,” Mitchell said, adding that the district is just trying to plan for the future.

Wetzel said the city is trying to plan for the future, too, and emphasized the need for a study to look at the traffic pattern changing in the area.

“It's your proposed road, not mine,” Mitchell said.

Mayor Scott Mangold said he understands the school district doesn't have the money to do roads, but said he likes the idea of having an extended north-south access road.

“I would like to see us look into a traffic study,” Mangold said, adding the city and school district can work together.

The city staff has talked about hiring a professional to revisit the master street plan as a whole, said William Petersen, city building official. Though not in this year's budget, it could be proposed for the next fiscal year, which begins in July 2011.

“We want to do it, and we want to do it well,” Petersen said.

Councilmen asked Mitchell if the school district could purchase and develop just a portion of the land, thereby allowing the rest of the 30-acre property to be developed and include an extended Clark Street. The district needs about 9 acres for a new elementary school, but is looking at purchasing the entire 30-acre parcel.

“I've been told that if someone buys that property and divides it, you're going to make them put that road in — and we're not interested in that,” Mitchell responded.

Wetzel said for the council to make the decision Monday night without more detailed information “would be total lunacy.”

“We're sitting here trying to make a decision without adequate information,” Councilman Hillberry agreed.

Mitchell said the school district didn't need an answer immediately — after all, the proposed school won't be built for another 15 years.

“We're not here saying we need a decision tonight,” Mitchell said.

However, the property is for sale now, he noted.

“I don't know if the land will be for sale in a year,” Mitchell said. “It's not my decision — it's up to the landowner.”

City assistant attorney Scott Kath said reviewing the master street plan is an ongoing issue for the city's Planning and Zoning Commission. He said the commission focused on this particular quadrant of the street plan after the school district showed interest in the land.

Kath suggested the council consider a work session to look at the issue in more detail.

“It's good to know the school district doesn't need a decision tonight and that there's more time to work with these various issues,” Kath said Monday.

Planning and zoning members are willing to look at the street plan and discuss the Clark Street extension, said John Sides, the commission's chair.