PCTI in Wayne is nearly 'out of real estate.' How does that affect parking woes?

WAYNE — Passaic County Technical Institute plans to build an enormous athletic facility at its campus off Oldham Road, further cementing its status as the most well-furnished high school in this area.

But the structure is going to wipe out several dozen parking spots, and the growing school — now with more than 4,500 students — cannot afford to lose any of that space.

That is why it also intends to construct a three-story parking garage on one of its last parcels of vacant land, at the intersection of Kattak Parkway and Reinhardt Road, near the entrance to the Public Safety Academy at Passaic County Community College.

The proposal was unveiled to the Planning Board at a recent public meeting by architect Steven Coppa, who acknowledged that the magnet school is virtually “out of real estate.”

Students do not have adequate room for recreation, the architect said, so the school decided that it must go vertical with its new parking lot.

Coppa appeared before the board for an informal review of the parking arrangement and minor upgrades to the 55.7-acre campus, which lies just west of the Haledon border. The township does not have authority to approve or deny its plans.

The architect said a design for the athletic facility is still being prepared, but that it was necessary for the board to understand the long-range goal of the school.

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According to a memo from township Planner Christopher Kok to the board, the parking deck will have 291 spots.

There will also be two parking lots, with an extra 62 spots, in that vicinity.

Coppa said the parking deck and the adjoining lots will be shared by visitors to the Public Safety Academy, which became a local attraction in May when it opened a permanent Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall — among the largest in the country.

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The architect said the parking deck and the adjoining lots will result in a net gain of 110 spots after the athletic facility is up and running.

Mayor Christopher Vergano, who sits on the board, said parking at the school is an ongoing issue. Students who drive there have been leaving their cars on residential streets and trekking several blocks to the campus, he said.

To stop that from happening, officials banned parking during school hours on multiple streets within walking distance.

“It’s just not a good situation,” the mayor said.

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The parking deck and the adjoining lots should alleviate the demand for spots, Coppa said. In the meantime, he added, the school is renting a nearby lot at Mahatma Gandhi Center & Hindu Temple on Preakness Avenue.

Philip DeVencentis is a local reporter for NorthJersey.com. For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

Email: devencentis@northjersey.com

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: PCTI in Wayne is nearly 'out of real estate.' How does that affect parking woes?