Community Corner

Mansfield Town Council to Revisit School Building Project Referral

The two-school building project is currently on track for bond authorization and a November referendum.

The next step for the Mansfield school building project begins today, July 9, as the Mansfield Town Council works toward presenting the Planning & Zoning Commission with a revised project referral.

the council’s recommendation to . The proposal also included renovations to the .

The council had referred its plan to the PZC to determine whether the project was consistent with the town’s Plan of Conservation and Development.

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In short, the policy is “designed to protect and promote the overall health, welfare and safety of existing and future residents,” according to town documents.

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While Director of Planning & Development, Linda Painter, said the project was in fact consistent – as the plan called for building the new schools on existing sites – some members of the commission found the council’s referral lacked clarity and expressed concerns over site selection. The referral was ultimately denied.

In a memo to the council dated July 9, Town Manager Matthew Hart said it would be "appropriate" for the council to make a new project referral to the commission in order to address the concerns raised during the council's initial referral.

Should the council support Hart's recommendation on Monday, the new referral will read as follows, according to town documents:

Move, to refer to the Planning and Zoning Commission for a report in accordance with CGS §8-24, the conceptual school building project consisting of the following elements:

• Renovations to the Mansfield Middle School

• Construction of two new elementary schools on the Goodwin and Vinton sites, including demolition of the existing buildings and the acquisition of adjacent property if necessary

• Closure of Southeast Elementary school, the future use of which is undetermined at this time

The PZC's next scheduled meeting is Monday, June 18 at 7 p.m. in the Council Chambers of the Audrey P. Beck Municipal Building.


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