OSHKOSH, Wis–New airport zoning restrictions threaten to derail a major part of the Oshkosh Area School District’s facilities plan. The district is looking to build a new South Park Middle School adjacent to the site of the current school.
But last year, Winnebago County adopted zoning restrictions around the nearby Wittman Regional Airport that specifically prohibit schools on the approaches to the runways.
South Park was grand-fathered in due to already being in place–but the county or city could refuse to permit new construction on that site. School Board member Tim Hess wonders why the district would still include a new South Park in its upcoming referendum question……….
Superintendent Brian Davis says trying to build a new middle school outside of the airport zone would greatly increase the cost of the next referendum…………
Davis is meeting with city and county officials to see what the process would be to receive a zoning variance to build on the South Park site.
