##VIDEO ID:Wk_C5SW73do## e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e I was going to put a slide in here about what we've been doing and I forgot to but I'll just tell you um so we have um finished What's called the feasibility study phase um which included uh two reports preliminary concept um development we looked at several different schemes the school building committee picked a scheme um and so now we're working on advancing that design we're in What's called the schematic design phase um and schematic design will go through about February and then um one of the very important tasks that we're doing in this phase is um we'll be establishing the project budget based on the cost estimate of this phase and then that project budget will be um become part of the uh Bond vote that um the town will vote on in June late June um so today we're talking about uh the site I have uh with me here Jade Cummings our landscape architect um she's going to share some material with you um I'm just going to give us an overview and kind of set Jane up not set Jane up set it who were you setting up ible I'm not setting anyone up um so these are the site elements um that we are proposing so our next community meeting is going to be about traffic so we're going to kind of try to gloss over traffic today um because we're going to revisit that next week with our Traffic Engineers um but we have um which we've looked at before we have a loop road which is um surrounding a whole bunch of staff parking and there's parent parking parallel parking along the Loop Road um this area is a is the drop off and there's um what we're calling an arrival court so kind of a generous um paved area and there's also a a good siiz covered outdoor area um at the entrance um the Bus drop off is separate buses will enter from haal Street and then exit through the car Loop um so in terms of the site program um we have the wow Center which is what is currently at the kilum inside the courtyard so there's um it's kind of an Environmental Education um piece so they're currently they have a fish pond or turtle pond a composting area um and some planting um some gardening beds ra beds thank you um um so we're going to be recreating a similar kind of um place somewhere on the campus um we have a u12 soccer field um which is strongly wished for by Jim Sullivan from the rec department we have three separate playgrounds so one for K through 2 one for 3 through 5 and one for the rise the rise playground is on the hay roll Street side and then um an outdoor dining patio and this is an alternate alternate that we're considering which is that there's currently a as you all know a softball field at kilum so we looked at the possibility of fitting in a softball field um this is a U10 so it's like the smallest size and as you can see it has an infield but then the Outfield is really um not proper right cuz you run into the trees in left field pretty quickly right field is okay you spill onto the soccer field um but we've heard from um the softball league in town um as well as I think a couple parents that this was a desirable element it's something you have now and it would be a shame to lose it so we think it's possible to fit that in and in this scenario we might move the wow over to the join the playgrounds um which might be nice actually that it might be kind of an more of an integrated um space that's a play Space um along with the playgrounds this is news to Jade um all right I'll let Jade share more about the um site y thank you thank you Jenny hello everyone again my name is Jade comings landscape architect uh Jenny thank you that was an excellent overview um so Jenny outlined the spaces um but what I would say is if we just step back for a moment and look at the project big picture I just want to say from our perspective uh we're we're super excited about the way this site is is really is laying out uh some schools we work on it's either oh there's so much ledge or the topography or the storm water management you know it's circulation tricky and this site is um it just feels good and it's been a pleasure working with Jenny and her team really understanding how the building should be cited so that these spaces can lay out um relative to the school to preserve those safe zones for the kiddos but to also have clear access and maintenance throughout the site um one of my favorite um aspects of this project is the fact that we've been able to preserve um with the building in this location we've been able to preserve this completely unrestricted Zone in this area and all along the east side where the kiddos can have un interrupted um access from the school to the outdoor spaces that that cannot often happen um so we that's a real success of this project um so as we as we begin to dive a little more um sight specific into the spaces that Jenny outlined um from a landscape architecture perspective we're it's I sort of I sort of explain it we have the Architects dealing with the structure we have the civil engineers working with the the roadways and the storm water and we are sort of like the interconnected tissue that's making sure we bring it all together to get the program to work um and when thinking about how we're going to lay out these spaces we're thinking about outdoor obviously playground active use passive use education performance dining um and then as as as Jenny outlined we have a playground for 3 through five we have K through 2 we have the rise play we have the open field for more active um use and then the W Center um where we're envisioning it can be a space where kiddos can go if they want to just be a little more reflective or quiet um we can have um little um if you look at the image in the lower left down here um where kids can get their hands dirty or they can you know get some we can get some naturalized Boulders out there um bits and pieces um to complement uh the spaces so as we've outlined in this option which may shift a bit we have the wow Center along Charles Street which works nicely because um our early grading studies for the topography we're able to carve in a Zone in this area so the W Center will sit a little lower to create sort of a nestled Zone with um a densely um planted Evergreen area just for some Safety and Security and then next to the wow Center we could have an open field um so we're we're picturing seating and viewing for the open field so that if there is community use on the weekends um there could be play in the open field but then young youngsters could be in the wow Center or on the playground on either side with families interconnecting throughout the site um the arrival Court primarily Hardscape it'll be open because we do for Security emergency access reasons we have to maintain perimeter access around this portion of the building and we also want to have these open spaces so that we have ease of access for snow removal uh on the North side we have service and in the toward the back um this is still a bit in flux uh we were looking at having outdoor Gathering adjacent to the cafeteria and in the imagery you can see um we're thinking of having some type of um maybe stadium seating so the kids can go out and it can either be a place where they can sit they can eat their lunch um but a safe Zone that would be fenced in all along Hail Street um an outdoor learning uh Zone and then the rise Play Zone adjacent to the classrooms um where we could have different types of inclusive play um and age approp uses and then just to close out my portion of the presentation um again character imagery of what we're starting to think relative to the design of the spaces and the types of elements that we could have to activate uh color is very important um but also simple forms again so that we can go back and make sure that these spaces are maintainable because if we can't maintain them it it's not a good story um where where we do have um these types of elements these naturalized elements these are actually concrete so again these aren't structures that will rot over time or splinter um but we we've been working with a playground vendor who's just exceptional uh we work closely with their team and the district when we get to that point of getting into the real detailed design to um understand which elements will um weather and activate the best and then looking at active play zones uh again we're always um we're working on a project in Newton right now it's the most inclusive playground that we've ever developed and we're bringing that into um our our new school work as well and with that Jenny I'll hand it over to you thank you thank you Jade I just have one more slide which is talking about um uh how the community will access the gym and cafeteria inside the building um so these are plans on the left is the ground floor on the right is the Upper Floor so you can see on the right in this teal color the gym is actually on the Upper Floor one of the reasons that we did that just going back to our planning is um there was it's quite a tight site by the time you subtracted the area where the existing school will be in operation we have like um 2.4 four acres to work with so a real priority for getting this project to work was like getting a really efficient footprint so putting the gym on the second floor um was one of the moves that made that work and also during the school day it's primarily used by the kindergarten through fifth graders who are on the second and third floor so that's really easily accessible for them but for the public um the public will come in here um on the ground floor can you see my little arrow not very well um through here on the ground floor and into like a generous Lobby where there's will be kind of a big um a grand I don't want to say a grand stair but a big stair a generous stair um and you just go up the stair and then you're right there to get into the um the gym and the cafeteria is um on the ground floor and then all of the classrooms and academic spaces are separated um in a separate wing this red line is kind of the demising line between those public publicly accessible areas and the academic areas and there's just a double door that can be locked at night so it's really easy to control access um that is um all of our presentation so I'll I think leave it on this slide which gives us lots of pictures to talk about and I'm interested to hear um from folks about um what kinds of um programs and elements are important to include on the site or the qualities of those programs and elements is it to ear to ask a question landscape architecture offers no this is the perfect time to ask especially since our landscape architect is here 100% sure you just want to know that what what we're thinking about thatr that space between the buffer I assume that is a very good question so we're still we're still in the very early planning so we haven't um we haven't gotten into specific plantings generally as you can see on the plan we're showing the perimeter trees and then we have the parking lot trees to show that the intent is to definitely have the green coverage um but what we will do is as the project progresses and as the program begins to settle um you know for instance tonight if we look at the softball field those faces may be they may change a bit but as the program sits then we will go out and understand we'll be working with the civil engineer to understand what the storm water requirements are because we have to make sure there is no we have pre- runoff um uh pre- runoff versus post runoff calculations that we have to meet so after all of the engineering is understood then we come in and working with any Butters who are interested and the design team we work at planting accordingly um we we tend to prefer to do naturalized plantings meaning we don't want to just put up a row of like Arbor that just to us it doesn't bring natural interest or habitat of any way um and it doesn't allow for seasonal interest but we like to do um group plantings with a mix of Evergreen and deciduous lower canopy and and over story um so that we can get as much screening as possible of course if we hear from an AB butter that they're like no we love the view into the school you know then then we would work we would work with them but it it really comes it becomes very individual in very individual conversations and the earlier that we have those conversations after we get into you said the vote is in June um after we get past the vote as soon as we know that the school is moving forward that's when we want to start to have those conversations and the earlier the better is there fening still that will be that will be another we're not there just yet but that will be one of the conversations we'll have to look at what is required zoning uh and then again working with the butters um one of our projects with um Jenny's team um another school locally or nearby uh there was there was a lot of fencing and many conversations with the buts um but again ear the earlier the better and then on street I'm just curious on ail Street are you push the street or is there still room for cars to park along street that is something where we're we've been talking about both um approaches um the the procon argument is that haal street is a busy street and it's not the safest for people to pull over um and parallel park along Hy roll Street um that's the con the pro is that it's convenient for people who are coming that way and and and going that way so that's a still an open question and I think we'll continue to talk about that next week or at our next um meeting on traffic what are your thoughts push out and get and like you think people will still just pull over and park there anyway Poss yeah that would be the worst good point thank you he always Mak just here the hour of construction time is at 7 a.m. so 4: or 5 or whatever and does that mean stop with a noise and it set up at 6 please this is coming from the meeting last night that the school committee had about drwing Wells and the whole conversation about the two years of construction so that's a question we don't have a GC on word just yet but we do typically sometimes earlier will be so that includes set 7 well when they replaced the roof they said 7 a.m. but then they started setting up at 6:00 a.m. and it was well it was bad and then they said but yeah we're not starting work till 7 so you know um this is going to be a couple of years we understand it's going to be get it but I think 7 a.m. is reasonable and not encourageable for that you don't want the person H at or or even all the equipment being removed and the that's it's the the setup is just as disruptive as the actual uh work so that's just something to keep in mind thank com the it would be Street all this it's very very will 100% be a fence on haal Street um because we have a a playground with small children on that side um what the quality and character of that fence will be um I I don't know yet yeah I mean I bring it up obviously there would be you could do this my comment is specifically about the quality and character of offense and it should be a solid offense it should not be like going spend tens of millions of dollars no be very foolish I just want to put that out there anyone who lives there been just walk along that it would be insane to me not to spend money whatever it is 20 grand sure I would be really shocked if there's anyone I to um with respect to Charles Street which is my primary concern I live directly across from the school um could you talk just a little bit about a little concerned about the placement of some of the plan I want to make sure that they don't get cut or back um just because here but on the prior yeah thank you um so the little section there um are you playing there's something there now are youing to clear was there or you're trying to keep what there are you're talking about this kind of forested section in the corner so we will where possible we try to preserve as many trees as possible um oftentimes I have been referred to as a tree hugger and it's true um but what what will happen is given the new the location of the new entry drive and because there is a topography change there there will be some offg grading that will need to happen to get a safe access drive wherever the existing root zone of the tree is affected we will have to evaluate will it impact will it impact the structure of the tree to the point where it creates a hazard if that is the case we'll have to remove it but if we're going to remove it we're going to have to replace it um believe me uh I am I am the one beating the drum about trees tree preservation where possible but where it makes sense um I do end up removing more trees than people would expect just because the impact of construction really we don't want to have trees falling on anyone after you know the 2 to 5 years after um but the tree replacement is really important and um also for shade and that's another thing that I'm going to say early on as well as we go through pricing and and cost exercises just getting rid of a tree because it will save it we need shade as well so having the buffer for the abutters so that we have the Visual and it's like an emotional screen as well um you know being able to maintain some of that privacy uh we really understand the importance of that it's important I apprciate those coms because myk lot being Ian it's a massive increase in the number of cars and the amount of traffic see so I appreciate any there trees there now um one other thing too and I'm asking foral dispensation for my family um the fact I really like where you have the entry exit Point placement you actually look at it today there's only one entry exit point and it's directly across driveway um so which is super super anous so I appreciate that you have I think entry point four well right around there and then the exit point is a little bit after which is awesome so thank you um I do have to make one side comment I can't Stu I'm sorry I find it really interesting that we're mentoring Town ordinances about sound when there's no um really no restrictions on the cation just unrelated to this but they can fire GS at 8:30 at night and no one in the town seems to care except me thank you could you FP back to the Where the wild Center was in the this one or this [Music] one oh this one I'm just I'm looking for a different perspective because I work but um just for supervision of the CER on the opp we do have two end they can't turn left they but I don't think you live when they could turn left it was much worse right Denise what do you think about that placement of the wow Center like I think it's better before and after I it's better the three and five this cuz it's then it's easier supervised during Play Time recess can having it acoss from the field would be more challenging yeah did we talk about putting the w w Center South of um The Rise PL area like in here yeah we have not talked about that so far reality same thing um see Center I think we're we're going and keep it closer to the building and maybe car's idea is a good idea but we thought about flipping the soccer field this way would it fit and then put the wild Center a little the next the K through 12 before the the 12 the soccer field soccer field becomes parallel to Charles is that possible oh if it's parallel to Charles yeah I think it doesn't fit it um like putting it at an angle makes it uh it's into the parking yeah it's a tight squeeze as it is I'm sure we've looked at it like I at first I thought you were saying like turn it 90 degrees from where it is um it's possible we did we did look at that and then ites the playground long and skinny this becomes soccer and then it's play play WoW mhm maybe we can put in our schedule when after they vot when landscap comes on with good idea I think that's a that's a fantastic idea and again this earlier we can do that the better because it is not lost on us like hearing hearing you I totally get it I I I I've seen it so many times you know family and friends we've all gone through it it's it's it's an it's an upheaval and just knowing that you're heard and that we're going to you know we're going to do the best we can while working early on with civil because so many big movements are going to be happening early on but if we can have your goals in mind I would love the opportunity to come out and and stand at your property if that isn't too intrusive with you to understand what are your views and what are your concerns and then if that's something that we can prioritize um it it'll be a win for everyone one the worst case scenarios are the it didn't come up or no one thought about it no one attended the meetings they didn't under you know they didn't they just ignored it until construction happened and then everyone was ready to go and they're like what do you know um so this is a very important conversation and probably has toen others at different phases too reaching out TOS are you going send them a or is it up to them figure um that's loud sorry about that um we have a reverse 911 gr for uh the geofence around that whole neighborhood I don't think we sent out a call for the last few Community meetings Okay so add that one yeah so we can do that we haven't been doing that we speak to um notifications of community meetings through the website through superintendent newsletters principal newsletters um town meeting Town manager minute um Facebook Etc when I first I did receive I think what would make sense and I'm just thinking through this now but um at the appropriate time which I think is after the vote when we are kind of at at a place in the design process to dig into that level of detail I think we should Um send a letter out to each of the abuts and invite um them to engage with us and perhaps we can go and visit each a butter those that are open to having us visit their properties um and at least invite the um the opportunity to to communicate with the design team in whatever way it works for each for each a butter the ABS the ABS to the ABS this is a huge building yeah whatever to should go one more we can we'll we'll do another call we'll do that [Music] again yeah no they do that's a whole thing yeah that's a whole thing so we will we will send out of the Cod R calls and the reverse calls and those are geens in the whole area so it's not just the directs the region I think so many and this project will also go before um the the planning board um we're just we're not there yet that'll also happen after the vote during that phase so that'll be um along with that process as you know there's a a mandatory um communication to a Butters so that will happen as [Music] well [Music] I the plans be put on thats I went through the site this isn't anywhere that picture that the actual you have like the background these pl we usually yeah we post I believe we post the presentations from each community meeting after the Comm like in the week following each community meeting thank what I'm hearing is would once they yeah like on the front page or something I think that's a good good [Music] suggestion start we talk our how not socialia at all so any suggestions like this we have a Communications working group that meets every two weeks what happens if the town V if if the town votes against it then um we can ask the msba for another vote within a very short period of time if that fails then we're out the process I guess I'm asking would there be some smaller stuff just something else we've done those options we msba requires a renovation option A renovation an addition option um and then new options in the pricing for like a renovation addition is higher than oh no I read everything so I'm hearing that it's done well we as a town would have to do something that's completely on our own unless we try to get into the process again which is really engag okay um unless there are any more questions we can close the meeting and W welcome you all to stick around in chat November 4th November 4th yeah to recreational I don't know but Jim Jim Sullivan would be the person to speak to [Music] that this is oping at field that size with amids [Music] is a great option earlier weather to have a soft field where it is right now you can put a softball field right on rectang another option good [Music] for prrams to get on Field have I like the aw open probably Town it it's kind of would that be Saturdays Saturday and suay so the kind ofle so Saturday sucer field is probably as SU [Music] thank you Jim thanks Jim um this would be an ideal spot for yeah I don't want to I mean if the field soft but I don't want to take [Music] away they make for years that's question I think every Elementary School basketball neighbor balletballet I'd love to see basketball basket yeah basketball would be again Elementary School you always want to see one we could we could take a look at perhaps a half court but right now full court will not fit on the site unfortunately um we have at other schools done the is it drop shot like the it's not it's not the same right um but that's something that that's where we're going to we're going to have to start these conversations um is it the te- ball is it the soccer is it basketball unfortunately all three can't fit um but if you know if there's any feedback specifically you know hearing that the te- ball is welcome is super helpful um but that was the one program element on our checklist it's like uh where we where are we going to put basketball use soft perhaps we could do a we could look at a a half court it's not it's not I would never put soccer on there I hads and oh you're saying overlay them because you would never play softball and soccer at the same time with them on top of each other that's good to hear not everybody understands that and it does it creates Collision courses and yeah so that's a good suggestion we can look at right overlaying softball and soccer so it's a single use at a single time Mach but that only works if it's Turf right because I mean it could work it it would [Music] yeah [Music] option they kind [Music] over 20 period cheaper or clearly more just to show numb to Charing on the field charass char [Music] I just like to add for the others we also have our tree and parks for questions also an evangelist questions for mik: [Music] [Music] [Music] you want to say mik some of the turf fi and St like that are a lot EAS for us maintain just up leaves and stuff like that it's a lot easier there in the back something that obviously you can't put on but toow and stuff like that kids are and window I trees and like that one [Music] processed but even just the soly it's definitely just people field so I do think it's to field soft on the [Music] want [Music] [Music] [Music] small where your G teacher at the keep their stage SOC out there yeah good point Jim we we did include in the program an a dedicated wreck um Department storage but I think we put it up in the gymy yeah [Music] no it's already it's already your space we just want to put it in the right [Music] spot pretty as okay A Long Walk yeah [Music] thank you everyone for coming really appreciate your input thank you e for