Resident Tells BOE: 'Take a Further Look' at Parking Lot

With the date for opening bids on the proposed expansion of the high school parking lot fast approaching, more residents spoke up on the issue during Monday’s Board of Education meeting.

Superintendent Jim O’Neill said bids will be opened and the board will take a final vote on the project on June 27. Prospective constructors are submitting bids on two parts of the project: the classroom construction and the parking lot expansion. For the parking lot, constructors can bid on a large lot that would add about 90 spots, or on a smaller lot that would add 50 spots.

Board President Tom Belding has said sending the project out to bid does not commit the board to constructing the lot. The board could still vote against it.

Chatham resident Jim Urbelis asked the board to take a step back and consider the environmental implications of an expanded parking lot, including all the grass that would have to be removed for the area to be paved. He said he contacted Al Gore’s office to find out what some other viable options are. One suggestion was driveable pavement, which he said is a concrete superstructure that has a well-designed sub base that allows as special kind of grass to grow beneath it.

“I would just like to see you take a further look at this before you make any decisions that are not going to be changeable,” Urbelis said. “Once you pave this grass over, it’s not going to come back.”

Under the 2011-12 school budget, $1,618,255 is available for the classroom construction and $400,000 is available for the parking lot construction and paving.

Resident Rich Ford said the parking lot discussion isn’t easy, but there aren’t a lot of options.

“If kids drive to school and can’t find a spot, and they have to drive to Colony Pool to park, they’ll be late for class,” Ford said.

Belding said the board is taking into account all the comments that have been made. The next facilities committee meeting is June 20, and board members will discuss it further at that time.