P&Z Approves Special Permit For NHS Expansion Project

By Andrew Gorosko

Following a public hearing on a $41 million-plus project that would expand Newtown High School, as well as improve the school grounds, the Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) has endorsed the construction proposal, granting the Board of Education a special permit.

P&Z members also decided that a high school expansion project would have no significant adverse effects on the underlying Pootatuck Aquifer, which is the source of two local public water supplies.

P&Z members took action on the high school project at a February 7 session. The P&Z action followed the Police Commission’s February 5 endorsement of the traffic and site-access aspects of the project. The Police Commission is the local traffic authority.

School officials are seeking to hold an early June referendum at which voters would act on construction funding for the project. Last June, town voters approved spending $2.75 million for the architectural design phase of the overall $41 million-plus high school expansion project.

According to architectural plans submitted with the P&Z application, the expansion project would increase the size of the high school from 272,889 square feet to 347,909 square feet, representing a 75,020-square-foot increase in space.

Landscape architect Barry Blades, representing the school board, explained to P&Z members the site design for the expansion project, describing the three-story classroom wing that would be added to the structure, as well as a gymnasium addition.

Mr Blades told P&Z members that project planners do not want to remove existing athletic fields at the school in order to create new parking areas. As such, some tennis courts at the school would be relocated to create a parking area near the building, he said. Also, the greenhouse at the school would be relocated, he said.

Changes at the 12 Berkshire Road site would increase the existing 578 parking spaces to 667 parking spaces, he said. That 89-space increase would include two spaces reserved for handicapped people, he said. 

The school’s athletic stadium would be improved. The running track would be resurfaced and artificial turf would be installed on the stadium field, he said.

The main driveway at the school would be relocated about 180 feet to the northwest. Such a relocation would move that driveway farther away from the congested intersection of Berkshire Road (Route 34) and Wasserman Way with the goal of reduced traffic congestion in the area.

Also, an alternate access way to the high school site for use by emergency vehicles would be extended from Oakview Road, which runs along the western edge of the school campus, according to Mr Blades. That access way would connect to Oakview Road near an existing small parking lot for the school.

 Architect Joseph Costa of the Fletcher Thompson architectural firm, representing the school board, said the project’s design is intended to provide additional separate cafeteria facilities at the school to decentralize the building’s food service facilities.

Also, security cameras would be installed in the new structure, he said. Those cameras would monitor the perimeter of the new structure, its corridors, and the main spaces in the inside the structure, he said.

Jason Hiruo, an assistant principal at the high school, explained the planned security features that would be part of the expansion project. Mr Hiruo noted that the school campus is located near the heavily traveled Interstate 84.

P&Z member Richard English listed school security as a major issue.

Mr Hiruo noted that the planned emergency access way connected to Oakview Road would provide a potential evacuation route from the property.

Engineer Michael Scully, representing the school board, said that a natural gas line would be extended to the school from a gas main buried beneath Oakview Road. Also, fire hydrants would be installed on the high school site.

Traffic engineer Michael Galante, representing the school board, explained a traffic study performed on the implications of a high school expansion.

Mr Galante noted that by the end of 2011, the state Department of Transportation (DOT) plans to build a reconfigured and simplified Exit 11 interchange of I-84.

The intersection of Berkshire Road and Wasserman Way would be significantly improved as part of that project, he said. The operation of traffic signals in the area would be coordinated to improve traffic flow, added. As part of that project, the DOT may install a traffic signal at the intersection of the relocated high school driveway and Berkshire Road.

 

Public Comment

Resident Sharon Ivan of 5 Oakview Road raised a host of issues concerning how the high school project might adversely affect her property. Ms Ivan said her property lies downslope of the area planned for construction.

Ms Ivan questioned the removal of brush from the high school site, saying that the brush functions as a noise barrier. Also, the project poses stormwater drainage issues, she said.

Ms Ivan noted that Oakview Road is a narrow road that is used as a shortcut by motorists. Motorists there do not observe the posted speed limit, she said.

Environmentalist Diane Lauricella of Norwalk raised issues about the environmental aspects of the high school project. She urged that the project have an environmentally sound design and that it employ “green” technology that is environmentally friendly.

Ms Lauricella raised questions about whether the planned installation of artificial turf would pose health hazards for its users.

Mr Costa responded that the expansion project has been designed for a highly efficient use of energy in the new space. The project does not address energy use in the entire high school, he said.

Mr Blades responded to Ms Lauricella’s concerns about the use of artificial turf.

Also, Mr Scully responded to Ms Ivan’s concerns about potential drainage problems affecting her property.

Before P&Z members approved the high school project, P&Z Chairman Lilla Dean said that project planners had met the zoning regulations pertaining to the expansion plans.

Ms Dean had urged that the P&Z approve the project on February 7 with certain stipulations, noting that the school board faces deadline pressure to accomplish the project.