After much debate, the Mt. Lebanon school board has approved a design development plan for the high school renovation project and authorized the start of construction drawings.

The school board Monday voted 8 to 1 with James Fraasch against.

The board requested that the Pittsburgh Celli-Flynn Brennan architecture firm examine recommendations from the Community Advisory Committee, which conducted a review of the design.

Architect Tom Celli said his firm would consider the six recommendations about loading dock placement, a possible Cochran Road entrance to the building, the quest for LEED certification, prevention of internal congestion points, tennis court placement and traffic circulation on Horsman Drive.

The approval of the design development plans and the start of construction drawings mark a significant step forward for the projected $113.3 million high school renovation project.

At several meetings this fall, residents and board members have discussed, at length, the design for the high school. Mt. Lebanon resident Daniel Rothschild, an architect, suggested a Community Advisory Committee to review the designs presented by Celli-Flynn Brennan, and in November, the school board announced the creation of the 11-person committee.

The committee presented its findings to the school board last week, offering 83 suggestions. A dozen residents spoke at the meeting Monday, voicing their concerns about the design process or offering suggestions for the renovation plan.

Mr. Celli also delivered a response to the Community Advisory Committee suggestions, explaining the process and the reasoning behind his plans, which he said were "consensus-designed by the master design team."

The plans meet the criteria set by the school board, he said, and will be the simplest to build at the best cost.

"Let's go with it," he said.

But before approving the plan and giving a green light to the construction drawing process, the board focused its discussion on six of the recommendations made by the Community Advisory Committee. They discussed, in particular, the possibility of designing a front entrance on Cochran Road and changing the location of the loading dock.

Mr. Celli said his firm would review the recommendations.

Looking for more from the Post-Gazette? Join PG+, our members-only web site. You'll get exclusive sports content, opinion, financial information, discounts from retailers and restaurants, and more. Our introduction to PG+ gives you all the details.