Board schedules Sept. 24 public hearing for Phillips Sugg Middle School 5,800 sq ft addition with stormwater upgrades

Andy Johnston, a consultant with Cragmaw Consulting, said the Phillips Sugg Middle School project is "about a 5,800 square foot addition" located on the playing-field side of the building and described limited site impacts alongside required stormwater work.

Johnston told the board the addition is intended to modernize program space rather than increase student capacity and that utilities will be reconfigured so trucks can still serve the kitchen. He said a new sprinkler service is being added to serve the addition because current code requires sprinklers for new educational buildings over 2,000 square feet: "I don't think it serves the whole building. I think it serves the addition because that's the requirement." He added the team has completed hydrant flow testing and proposed several bioretention cells and underdrain swales to manage campus stormwater and meet cumulative site thresholds.

Committee members asked about the addition's internal uses, effects on athletic fields and the construction timeline. A board member noted the site has multiple playing fields and Johnston said the planned drainage work will make edges of the fields more playable by pulling water away from field perimeters and providing outlet infrastructure for future surface improvements. On schedule, Johnston said a fall start is possible but DEP permitting or winter conditions could defer work to spring: "Best case, they may try and do something late this fall," he said.

After discussing whether a separate public hearing was needed, the board moved to find the amended site plan application complete and to schedule a public hearing on Sept. 24 to allow public review and comment. Chair Dan Lieben and board members directed staff to coordinate notice and confirm availability for the hearing.