Date: Fri 26-Jan-1996

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDYG

Quick Words:

P&Z-high-school-expansion

Full Text:

P&Z To Review High School Expansion Plans

B Y A NDREW G OROSKO

Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) members are scheduled to review site

development plans proposed for the expansion and renovation of Newtown High

School at a February 1 P&Z meeting.

The session is slated for 8 pm in Town Hall South.

The school system has proposed a $31.5 million school expansion and renovation

project, $28 million of which would be earmarked for Newtown High School and

$3.5 million for Hawley School. School officials say the expansion project is

needed to relieve school system overcrowding.

According to an application for a site plan review submitted by the school

system to the P&Z, additions, modifications and improvements would be made to

the high school. Besides building an addition, the existing structure would be

improved to have it conform with the current state building code.

The high school would retain and likely improve its existing septic waste

disoposal system. The school's water well also would be used for an expanded

school.

When completed, the total number of parking spaces at the school would be 562.

According to the school system's application, expanding the high school would

have no effect on property values in the neighborhood.

Richter, Cegan & Webb, Inc, of Avon, the landscape architects for the project,

report that a study on the septic weaste disposal needs for an expanded high

school has been submitted to the state Department of Environmental Protection

(DEP) for its review.

As part of the expansion project, 30,000 cubic yards of earth materials would

be removed from the 47-acre high school site.

According to the landscape architects, after the proposed work is done,

buildings at the expanded high school complex would cover more than 144,000

square feet of area. Pavement would cover more than 306,000 square feet. A

track would cover more than 39,000 square feet. The total coverage at the site

would be just over 490,000 square feet, representing more than 23 percent of

47-acre parcel.

According to the landscape architects, a traffic flow study is being prepared

for the high school expansion proposal. The study will include information

concerning sight distances in both directions from the existing high school

driveway onto Berkshire Road. That driveway would remain the access point to

an expanded high school.

Almost 30 properties lie within 1,000 feet of the high school property.

Kaestle Boos Associates, Inc, of New Britain is the architectural firm for the

high school expansion project as well as the Hawley School project.

The proposals to expand and improve the two schools will be subject to voters'

action at an upcoming referendum.