Stonington — Stonington Planning and Zoning Commission members and residents raised questions Tuesday night about parking plans for the renovation and expansion of West Vine Street School, saying the number of spots is excessive.

The commission had not made a decision on the special-use permit needed for the project after 90 minutes of its public hearing.

A total of 180 on- and off-site spaces are planned for the project, which the K-12 School Building Committee's educational specifications say are needed.

During the hearing, West Vine Street resident Tom Fiore and his sister Jean told the commission that proposed parking for the project is excessive and, combined with loss of green space on the site, would alter the character of their neighborhood.

Commission Chairman Dave Rathbun said he agreed with the Fiores that the proposed parking for the project is excessive.

“Why do we need to have all this parking for 20 minutes a day," when parents are picking up children, he said.

He questioned why parking could not be added behind the school for teachers and suggested retaining open space now planned for parking. Other members offered alternative parking plans.

The commission already has approved similar plans for Deans Mill School in October. The work at the two schools is part of the $67 million renovation and expansion project that will get underway this coming spring and be completed in 2018. The project is designed to get another 50 years of life out of the two 48-year-old buildings. Both schools were built in 1967. Neither has received an update since then.

It could not immediately be determined if a delay to revise the parking plan could affect the timeline of the project.

j.wojtas@theday.com