COVENTRY, R.I. (WPRI) — The Coventry Town Council shut down the superintendent’s proposal to move the district’s bus depot to a former elementary school Tuesday evening.

Coventry Superintendent Don Cowart suggested late last month that the bus depot be moved from the Town Hall Annex on Flat River Road to the former Oak Haven Elementary School.

The district’s school buses have been parked at the Town Hall Annex for the past few years, according to Cowart. He said it was the town that requested the buses be moved elsewhere, noting that the building is slated to undergo renovations.

Cowart said Oak Haven, which shuttered back in 2009 due to budget constraints, currently houses the district’s technology and maintenance staff.

By moving the bus depot there, Cowart said the district wouldn’t incur additional expenses since the building is already being utilized.

Coventry Town Manager Dan Parillo explained that the town received a $2.85 million grant from the state to build a new learning center behind the Town Hall Annex, which is where the bus depot is currently situated.

Parillo said the town’s contract with Ocean State Transit, which provides transportation services for the district, makes it clear that the town can take that space back if necessary.

“If the town needs that space for additional facilities, it is up to the town, school department and contractor to come up with an alternative location for the bus depot,” Parillo explained.

Cowart said Ocean State Transit told him Oak Haven actually used to be their auxiliary bus depot.

“[Ocean State Transit has] actually had some experience parking buses there in the past,” he noted during a previous meeting.

Parillo said Oak Haven was initially deemed a viable site for the bus depot, but it has since been brought to his attention that the deed prevents the former elementary school from being used by a private entity for profit.

“We need to put this location to bed or continue to look into it,” he said.

The Coventry Town Council President Hillary Lima, who represents the district where Oak Haven is located, lambasted the proposal.

“It really isn’t hard for me to empathize with the fact that dozens and dozens of school buses should not be traversing a residential neighborhood on a daily basis twice a day,” Lima said. “It’s just common sense.”

“In my opinion, I personally would not like to entertain any proposal for a bus depot that lists Oak Haven as an option,” she continued.

Though no vote was taken, Sen. Lou Raptakis praised the council’s stance on the proposal, calling it “a wise decision.”

“It was a good practice of good government,” he said. “[The bus depot] doesn’t belong there, and residents probably have over a dozen reasons why it should not be in that neighborhood. I don’t think there’s a [city or town] that has a bus depot located in the middle of a neighborhood.”

Cheryl Roth, who lives in the neighborhood, was one of several residents to gather signatures for a petition opposing the bus depot.

“There wasn’t one person that we met that wasn’t opposed to this idea in the neighborhood,” Roth said, noting that the vast majority of her neighbors didn’t even know about the proposal to begin with.

Roth said she’s pleased that their voices were heard, adding that this is “the way that government should be.”

“I couldn’t be happier,” Roth said. “This wasn’t a good idea and it wasn’t thought out.”

Parillo didn’t specify what other locations are being considered for the bus depot, but acknowledged that the district must go back to the drawing board.

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