HomeMy WebLinkAbout1993-06-28 ad Hoc School Building Committee MinutesSCHOOL BUILDING COMMITTEE
` MEETING MINUTES
JUNE 28, 1993
Background
At a joint meeting of the School Committee and the CPDC on June 14th,
the School Building Committee and Design Partnership of Cambridge
presented the proposed site plan for Birch Meadow. Present at the
meeting was a group (3) of abutters to the proposed B/M parking lot. They
objected to the proposed location and presented an alternative plan which
moved the parking lot to a site off Birch Meadow Drive. A commitment
was made by the School Committee to evaluate their proposal and give
them a decision on June 28th. As a result of this commitment, a meeting
of the School Building Committee was scheduled for June 28th,
immediately preceding the School Committee meeting, for the purpose of
providing our recommendation of the various options developed by the
architect. Following is the result of that meeting:
The meeting was called to order at 6:35 PM.
Those in attendance were: M. Cowell, R. D'Antona, D. Farnham, R. Graham, J.
Lupi, B. Poock and R. Sanstad. P. O'Leary arrived late and did not
participate in the discussion and vote. Also in attendance were D. Finney
and J. Pearson from Design Partnership of Cambridge and their landscape
consultant, G. Larson.
The architect evaluated the proposal presented by the abutters and ruled
it to be not feasible due to the substantial amount of ledge in the proposed
area. They (the architect) then presented yet another alternative which
would create a parking area slightly further west of the abutters plan and
still on Birch Meadow Drive. Then followed considerable discussion of the
pros and cons of the two final sites. They were identified as Plan A which
was'the original site just north of the school and bordered by Arthur B.
Lord Drive and Forest Street and; Plan B which was the architects
recommended alternative and bordered on Birch Meadow Drive.
The major objections to the Plan B were (1) the exit onto Birch Meadow
Drive exacerbated an existing traffic problem on that street during peak
traffic hours and presented a safety hazard, (2) the proposed site was out
a
of the sight of the school building yet was adjacent to the playground area
and presented very serious concerns for the safety and well-being of the
children and (3) the location became an attractive nuisance for potential
"drinking parties" as it was surrounded on three sides by natural growth.
For these reasons, the group did not feel it was a viable option.
They did, however, understand the concern of the abutters and a
compromise position was reached. It was suggested that Plan A be
modified to reduce the number of parking spaces by five, thereby adding
approximately 45 feet to the buffer zone bordering Forest Street. A
stockade fence was also added to the west edge which bordered on the
new homes there. This then became known as Plan A Modified. A vote was
then taken and Plan A Modified was selected 7-0.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:20 PM.
Note:
This recommendation was presented to the School Committee later that
same evening. After hearing all arguments, the School Committee
supported Plan A Modified by a vote of 6-0.
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