Waldorf School Gains Approval

For Campus Changes

By Andrew Gorosko

Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) members have approved allowing the Housatonic Valley Waldorf School Association, Inc, to redevelop its school campus on Dodgingtown Road in Dodgingtown Center to make a better use of the space there.

P&Z members approved the project on April 2, following the conclusion of a public hearing on the association’s proposal to modify its special permit for the property.

Through the approval, the association will be able to construct a 16-space paved parking lot at 40 Dodgingown Road, and also relocate seven other existing parking spaces nine feet closer to the southeastern property line there.

Also, the association will make some internal improvements to create classroom space in a building at the adjacent 38 Dodgingtown Road. Additionally, the association will use a house at 36 Dodgingtown Road for school purposes.

The changes for the site would allow the school to conduct four sessions simultaneously with the potential for up to 78 students using the school in the morning. The previous student limit was 48.

The redesign of the property and student scheduling there is intended to alleviate congestion at the site.

In approving the application, P&Z members placed some conditions on the endorsement.

Provided that approval is received from the state Department of Transportation (DOT), the school would add an exclusive “pedestrian-use only” signal phase at the traffic signal that controls traffic at the intersection of Dodgingtown Road, Taunton Hill Road, and Jacklin Road.

Also, a driveway at 36 Dodgingtown Road must be broadened to a 12-foot width. Additionally, some parking spaces on the site must be expanded to nine-foot widths.

Also, the association must reach a roadwork agreement and a stormwater drainage work agreement with the town to proceed with the project, according to the P&Z.

P&Z members found that the project is consistent with the 2004 Town Plan of Conservation and Development, meets the requirements for a special permit, and meets the terms of the F&R-1 zoning regulations.

At the hearing that preceded the P&Z’s action, engineer Dainius Virbickas, representing the association, told P&Z members that although the town fire marshal had initially required the association to provide a 30,000-gallon underground storage tank on the site for a firefighting water supply, research indicated that there was an alternative.

A nearby pond was tested for its capacity and was shown to hold approximately 140,000 gallons of water which can be used for firefighting, the engineer said.

School officials had initially expressed concerns that installing an underground water tank for firefighting would be an expensive project.

Mr Virbickas said that the association is awaiting comments from the DOT on obtaining an exclusive “pedestrian-use only” signal phase at the traffic signal on Dodgingtown Road.

An initial public hearing on the school’s redevelopment proposal was held on March 5.  

Town Land Use Agency Director George Benson has said the association’s redevelopment project would make a for “a great improvement” at the site.