WILSON, Pa. — Wilson Planning Commission on Tuesday tabled decisions on proposed building and athletic field improvements at the high school.
The plans for the project include demolishing the existing gymnasium, bleachers, stadium, parking facilities and concession area to install a new turf field, bleachers, gymnasium, auxiliary building and new parking with overflow capabilities.
Integrated Consulting Senior Project Manager and Partner Terri Delo was on hand to address comments from the board linked to a letter addressing issues with the project from borough engineer and Planning Officer Monica Wall.
Delo said developers behind the project got some relief from the borough zoning hearing board, but will have to return for issues related to light fixtures within the stadium.
Other lights on the premises had been reduced to the maximum height of 16 feet.
Delo requested a waiver to allow for a combined preliminary and final plan approval session as opposed to multiple meetings, and planners granted the request.
Why the site was chosen
Board member Jeffery Bracken asked Delo to consider installing lighting around three crosswalks on Warrior Lane, being that it is “one of the main arteries for the school” and has poor lighting.
Delo said she could consult with the architects and vendors to see what could be done.
“Part of it is a supervision issue, because the stadium obviously means that you supervise."Wilson Area School District Superintendent Harrison Bailey III
Planners solicitor Stanley Margle brought up a question posed by the board in June 2025 concerning exactly why the project was being built at the existing site.
Wilson Area School District Superintendent Harrison Bailey III, said it was an issue related to keeping an eye on the students effectively — as placing the athletic facility closer to the intermediate school would pose problems.
“Part of it is a supervision issue, because the stadium obviously means that you supervise," Bailey said. "And in that location, in that field area where it would be if it was at the intermediate school, there’s a concern over how you supervise that.
"It would be very, very difficult to do so,” Bailey said.
Margle later said that substantial open space to accommodate such a large project is limited in the borough, as well.
Parking
The board also reviewed Wall’s engineering letter on the project from Dec. 2, 2025, addressing any issues Delo and the developer had with the commentary.
Margle first asked Wall if there were any potential problems with a request by the developer for four variances, which came about after they had re-engineered the plan to address other matters.
“Whenever you request a variance with parking — not just this applicant, it’s any applicant — it’s looked at very carefully.”Wilson Planners solicitor Stanley Margle
Wall said he anticipated no problems.
The solicitor then asked Delo to address the issue of parking, particularly the overflow, as “whenever you request a variance with parking — not just this applicant, it’s any applicant — it’s looked at very carefully.”
Delo said they would need a variance that calls for permanent striping in parking lots for spaces.
He said that would be impractical on the overflow lot, as it is a multi-use area that would only be tapped for parking a few times a year.
“The plan is that [school district officials] would go out and spray paint on the line, so that when that overflow parking is used during games, during graduation, that's how that would be indicated," Delo said.
"And be able to navigate people to get in, drive around, park and then safely leave that area."
Lighting
Margle also asked about Wilson’s zoning hearing board denying a request for the overflow lot before eventually going back to allow for it.
Delo said it was her understanding that the revised plans feature reinforced turf on the overflow lot, not just standard grass, which would work better for the use.
Delo also brought up a request to not install parking lot islands in the regular lot, as they could interfere with plowing.
Delo addressed concerns over how parking would be handled during construction by saying the existing lower lot will remain open at least until toward the end of the construction phase.
Delo also said the overflow lot likely would not be lit to the standards of the stadium, though there could be some perimeter lighting.
In the end, Margle advised the commission to table the matter, and do another review after the applicant submits responses to the engineering commentary.
The board tabled the matter without recommendations.
The matter is set to appear before the borough’s zoning hearing board and planning commission again in February and borough council in March.
