New Woodland School Project Moving Toward Town Meeting

Approval for a proposed replacement school for the crowded Woodland Elementary School could reach a Milford special Town Meeting within two months.

Two articles that ask Town Meeting members to authorize the placement of the school on a field adjoining the existing school, as well as funds that would provide for the construction, are expected to head to selectmen Dec. 16. Selectmen will be asked to set a Special Town Meeting date.

The school is expected to cost $60.9 million, with as much as 50 percent potentially provided by the state. The Massachusetts School Building Authority, which approves school design and provides state matching funds, is scheduled to review the project on Jan. 29.

On Wednesday, the town-appointed Woodland School Building Committee voted to recommend two articles for town meeting. The first asks members to add a section to the existing zoning bylaw to allow school-related structures, including play areas and parking lots, to be placed within 25 feet of adjoining residential properties. Town Meeting also would be asked to allow a taller height for public school buildings. The existing cap is 2.5 stories.

The proposed design, which features a three-story academic building, is taller than existing zoning law allows for a residential zone, and includes a parking lot and a play area for children that would be closer to surrounding homes than the 100-foot setback now required.

Town Meeting members would be asked in the zoning article to remove those restrictions for public schools. A second article would ask members to approve the financing.

Both articles will require two-thirds approval of Town Meeting members. On Wednesday, in discussing the articles, Woodland School Building Committee members said they would have to explain that the restrictions of the school site, and the need to keep the existing school open, constrict the location of the new building.

Other schools in Milford also violate the 2.5-story cap on height for residential areas, members observed, but these buildings were constructed years ago. They include Stacy Middle School. "Let's not pretend this is an issue, because it's not," said member Pat Kennelly, who noted that all of Milford's schools are in residential districts.

The proposed new school would be 42 feet tall, to the roof. The existing zoning restrictions limit the schools to 35 feet, or 2.5 stories, said Laura Wernick, senior principal architect for HMFH Architects.

If Town Meeting and the state approve the project, construction would take place while students continue to attend class in the existing building. Once the new school opens, the original building would be demolished and replaced with a playing field.

The new school would accommodate 985 students in the third, fourth and fifth grades, with each grade level having its own floor. The oldest students would be on the top floor. Two adjoining wings would have a gymnasium and offices.