Henrico board reviews schematic for new Fairfield Area Elementary; site, wetlands and sustainability discussed

Henrico County School Board members on May 14 reviewed the schematic design for the new Fairfield Area Elementary School and pressed presenters on wetlands impact, boundary effects and sustainability features.

Susan Moore, director of facilities, and Josh Bauer, the project's principal planner with Crabtree, Rohrbaugh & Associates, said the 23.3-acre parcel is roughly 50% wetlands; after setbacks and easements the developable area is approximately 9 acres. The team proposed siting the two‑story building on the western portion of the parcel to preserve wetlands and provide an enclosed courtyard and separate bus and car drop-off. Bauer said the building program calls for 37 classrooms, roughly 92,870 square feet and a planned capacity of about 750 students.

Moore told board members the project is part of the 2022 bond referendum and that the total project budget under the bond is approximately $46,000,000. She said design development and construction documents would wrap in early 2027, with bidding in 2027 and construction concluding in 2029 for a summer 2029 occupancy.

Board members asked technical questions about site safety and sustainability. The designers proposed fencing and locked gates to separate the Fall Line Trail from the school during school hours and described playground placement away from high-traffic trail edges. The design team said they are pursuing LEED Silver and have planned the building to accept a solar installation to be procured via a PPA with Dominion Energy; Mr. Young and Miss Atkins both suggested exploring solar canopies over parking and vehicle-charging infrastructure.

Wetlands and soils testing were a recurring theme. Presenters estimated the wetland impact for development to be minimal (roughly 0.27 acres of the developable parcel) and said they are conducting soils testing and environmental reviews now, with results expected at the end of the summer.

Board members also discussed boundary-drawing and feeder impacts: the team said attendance-zone adjustments at the elementary (and potentially middle/high) levels will follow planning timelines and could require longer public-review lead times if the scenarios are expansive.

What happens next: The design team will proceed to design development pending board direction and will return with further details and (per board request) additional data on site acquisition costs, wetland buffers and boundary scenarios.