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A proposal to add nearly 27 acres to the city's Renziehausen Park has been tabled for further study.

And city council has rejected McKeesport Area School Board's proposal to construct a new elementary school building in the same location.

The parcel in question is the so-called "Palkovitz property," which borders Eden Park Boulevard but is accessed from Easler and Allison streets.

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At Wednesday's meeting, city council voted 6-0 to delay adding the parcel to Renzie Park. Councilwoman Loretta Diggs was absent due to illness.

The delay was suggested by Councilman Darryl Segina. Council asked Solicitor J. Jason Elash to investigate whether any existing deed or ordinance would prevent the city from drilling for natural gas on the property, and for a formal survey of the land.

Segina also suggested that a committee should study the best use of the new parcel, if it's added to Renzie Park.

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Mayor Jim Brewster had suggested extending Renzie's existing fitness and nature trail into the Palkovitz site, if it's added to the park, but Segina rejected the idea.

"I'm opposed to having the trail extended up there," Segina said. "Maybe a nature preserve would be the best use --- I don't know." Brewster was not at last night's meeting.

The city last year acquired the property, which had long been tax-delinquent. In September, Westmoreland County-based Penneco Pipeline Corp. asked for permission to drill up to six gas wells on the property, in exchange for paying a royalty to the city.

Although council gave preliminary approval to the contract with Penneco, a final agreement has not yet been signed. A public hearing is scheduled for later this month to discuss the proposal.

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City officials have repeatedly said they have no plans to drill in the existing parts of Renzie Park. Because much of the land was donated, using pieces of Renzie for commercial purposes would be difficult or impossible anyway, Elash said.

Language inserted into the deeds by the donors prohibit using land they contributed to the park for drilling or other activities, he said. If the city tried to use the land for a business, the property would revert to the donors, Elash said.

No such requirement is on the deed for the Palkovitz property, and wouldn't be inserted into the deed unless the city --- the current owner --- asked for it, he said.

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Council also asked Elash to get a written opinion from the Allegheny Regional Asset District board to find out whether the newly acquired parcel would be eligible for RAD funding if drilling is permitted on the land.

RAD funding comes from the county's 1 percent sales tax. During the current fiscal year, the city was awarded more than $653,000 toward Renzie Park to pay for operating expenses and capital improvements.

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In a related matter, council by 6-0 vote rejected McKeesport Area School District's application for a "conditional use permit" to construct a new elementary school on the northwest corner of the Palkovitz property.

Council delayed action on the proposal in June at the request of then-Superintendent Michael Brinkos. The delay was requested after residents of the surrounding neighborhood objected. Brinkos said the district needed time to study the impact of the new school, and investigate other locations.

Since then, the school district has made no further attempt to contact the city, Council President Regis McLaughlin said.

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"They've never come back to tell us what they're doing," McLaughlin said. "Not one school board member has come to anyone from the city to say anything."

According to published reports, the district is currently looking at two other sites, including one on a parcel between 35th Avenue and Grandview Avenue. On Tuesday, Brewster said he'd object to any attempt to build a school on that parcel.

"If they rejected the Palkovitz property because of complaints from two residents, well, I've received a dozen complaints from people who live on 35th or Grandview," Brewster said.

If the school district decides to move forward again with the Palkovitz property, it is welcome to submit the site plan for re-consideration, McLaughlin said Wednesday.

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