Date: Fri 09-Jul-1999

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDYG

Quick Words:

Montessori-Gordon-Fraser

Full Text:

Zoning Change Gets Support From Montessori Parents

B Y A NDREW G OROSKO

About 100 Newtown Montessori School parents and students July 1 pressed the

Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) to approve allowing private schools as an

allowed land use in an M-2 Industrial zone, so that the school can proceed

with plans to relocate from its current cramped Dodgingtown quarters to the

spacious former Gordon Fraser Gallery at 173 South Main Street.

The Montessori push for the zoning amendment comes in the face of opposition

to the proposal from the Economic Development Commission (EDC), whose members

recommend against approving the amendment because they fear the local property

tax base would be damaged by having a currently taxed industrial building

converted for use as a non-taxable private school.

In a June 18 memorandum from EDC Chairman A. Winthrop Ballard to P&Z Chairman

Daniel Fogliano, Mr Ballard wrote that EDC members oppose the requested zoning

amendment because allowing a private, non-taxable school to occupy the

industrially zoned property would remove the building from the town' tax base

and would eliminate the potential for increased future taxes from the

building. The industrial building currently generates about $42,000 annually.

P&Z action on the requested zoning amendment is expected at an upcoming

session.

Attorney James Mannion, representing Montessori, told P&Z members the school

needs to relocate to the South Main Street building to expand operations and

better meet the educational needs of its students and the community.

The loss of revenue that would occur by converting the building to non-taxable

status would be more than offset by a savings in public educational costs to

Newtown, according to Mr Mannion.

The school has an option to buy the building, which has been offered for sale

at $2.1 million.

Locating the school in a residential area would add unacceptable traffic

congestion there, Mr Mannion said, adding that South Main Street is a better

location for a school. If the P&Z approves Montessori's requested amendment,

the school will seek a special exception to the zoning regulations to relocate

the school, he said.

Myriam Woods, head of the Montessori School, said the school has sought a

residential location for a decade, but has found nothing suitable.

Linda Hallinan, chairman of the school's long-range planning committee, said

if Montessori is not able to relocate to the South Main Street building, it

will have to move out of Newtown. If Montessori moves out of town, Newtown

would be diminished, she said.

Many Montessori parents spoke in favor of the P&Z granting the requested

zoning amendment.