By Sarah Opdahl

New Fairfield’s Permanent Building Committee (PBC) met on Tuesday, March 11 and discussed a handful of ongoing issues, including the  question of next steps regarding the temporary parking spots and lot approval that is needed in order to close the high school project and request final funds from the state. There was temporary approval for some parking on the high school campus, in part to accommodate the buses near Rebel Stadium, but permanent approval is needed soon, as the project is nearly complete and the buses will remain where they are for some time, even after a decision is made on the final lot location.

PBC Chair Mr. Don Kellogg explained that there was a conversation with school staff about the temporary parking and whether it can be phased out, but “it was deemed desirable by the school to try to maintain the…three sections of temporary parking that are around the perimeter of the original parking…the school felt that restoration of the parking spots along the drive would be acceptable with the parking situation at the school, and so we are proceeding with that.” In the proposal, they are “asking for a line item for the replacement of the mountable curb with a vertical curb,” which was a request from Director of Buildings and Grounds Mr. Phil Ross, who was concerned about long-term maintenance.

Colliers International’s Mr. Mark Schweitzer reported that JCJ Architecture is creating a proposal for designs related to “restoring the temporary spots along the campus exit drive.” They are also preparing to return to the New Fairfield Zoning Commission to propose “turning the other…temporary lots into permanent lots,” which is needed to secure the final Certificate of Occupancy. Kellogg clarified, “they are still going to be temporary, but we are going to ask them to be accepted by the Zoning Commission until the resolution of the bus lot so that we can cover some of the lost spaces by the occupancy of the buses.” Zoning approval is needed in order to move forward in closing out the project. 

Schweitzer gave a brief update on the ongoing plans for the crosswalk at the high/middle school campus exit. Having just received a proposal, PBC members agreed to wait to discuss the project until their next meeting on Tuesday, March 25.

Regarding the report on the year-plus propane failure at the new high school, Schweitzer said, “I did receive the design team’s comments on the chemists’ draft report,” which he supplied to the PBC. Committee members plan to read the full report and send along comments as soon as possible.

In an update on the Consolidated site, O&G’s Mr. Joe Vetro was happy to report that there will be activity happening there as early as late March. “It will roll nicely or conveniently into the planting season, which starts April 15, and they will continue on and get the grass established during that time frame.”

The next regular Permanent Building Committee meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, March 25, 7:30 p.m.