"This Facility Master Plan is a starting point for the Town to provide for needed space to support the additional students entering the system as well as enhancing the unique campus style environment as a valuable resource for the students and the community." O,R&L goes on to say "The Town has specific conditions that must be met to safeguard the planned expansion of each component identified" (as part of this concept plan).
O,R&L's architect/planners then say: "The inclusion of the many Boards and community groups in all decisions throughout the planning process is key to the eventual approval of this recommendation (the Plan)."
There are several significant elements to the site design for the overall school campus, which relate to how this recommended option...(NOTE: O,R&L had offered several options during the planning process and to two community-wide [well attended] Public Hearings in the Fall of 1999) is incorporated (see below under "site design").
SITE DESIGN
This Concept
Plan calls for, under the "site design" section, four
elements:
1)realignment of school road; 2)provision of adequate
parking;
3)redesign of recreation and athletic fields; 4)deal with
wetlands/open
space on School Road or replace or some other solution...the text for
this
section reads:
"One of the major elements is the realignment and creation of a loop road for School Road. The realignment of School Road will provide for better accessibility to each school building and safer separation of vehicular and pedestrian traffic. It is also important that School Road provide a pedestrian sidewalk so children and the community can walk safely throughout the school campus."
HURLBUTT
O,R&L
goes on to say: "We have provided sufficient parking at all
schools.
At Hurlbutt Elementary School we have designed a new entrance further
up
School Road, eliminating the congested traffic of parent's drop
off/.pick
up at peak hours at the intersection of School Road and Rte 57.
The
new entry will provide parking for all staff including sufficient
queing
lines for parents."
HIGH SCHOOL
The other
major parking change occurs at the High School. "We have
separated
staff and student parking with a major pedestrian walkway" which
connects
"...bus drop-off at School Road to the main entrance of the school...we
have also provided parking around the school" for teachers and
staff.
It was noted (as "About Town" recalls) in the final verbal presentation
that parking policy at Weston High School was recommended to change
(i.e.
limit student use of automobiles) or all the cars would never fit into
the plan parking areas.
And that is all the O,R&L says about traffic. Not exactly a "traffic study" as it does not provide traffic count data, break down vehicles by type, discuss loading and unloading of people and goods, describe exactly where this "loop road" will be located...in other words, all that the O,R&L Plan says about "traffic" is...no data and no recommendations other than CONCEPTUAL PROPOSALS. Which is, after all, all that O,R&L was supposed to provide!