nothin New Haven Independent | P & Z Digs Deeper into Walsh Renovation…

P & Z Digs Deeper into Walsh Renovation Project

Sally E. Bahner Photo

(L-R): Attorney Tim Shields and Greg Plasdil of Fusco, Corp.

Traffic circulation and the effect of the construction process on the students and neighborhood were among the hot button topics raised at a recent Planning and Zoning Commission (P & Z) public hearing as it heard plans for the renovation of the Walsh Intermediate School.

The details of the structure – both interior and exterior – have been discussed at length at meetings of the Board of Education and the Public Building Commission, and approvals have been granted by the Zoning Board of Appeals and the Inland Wetlands Commission. However, the July 6 meeting of the P & Z brought to light concerns about traffic flow, both during the construction process and once the project is completed. Walsh students will be attending school during the construction process, although the school calendar has been adjusted for earlier summer closing to accommodate the demolition and construction process. Click here to read an earlier story.

Neighbors raised a number of concerns. So did a commission member and the town planner. After hearing comments from the commission and the public, commission members, citing that they wanted all input necessary” voted to continue the hearing until this Thursday, July 20 at 7 p.m. at Fire Headquarters.

Construction Decisions


Sally E. Bahner Photo

Michael LoSasso (pictured), principal, presented Antinozzi Associates’ list of 13 criteria of compliance for a special exception and how the firm complied. He recapped the project including the new layout for the school, parking configurations, and timeline for construction.

According to one of the P & Z’s criteria, The design, location, and specific details of the proposed use or activity must not adversely affect safety in the streets nor unreasonably increase traffic congestion in the area nor interfere with the pattern of vehicular circulation in such a manner as to create or worsen unsafe traffic conditions.”

Antonio DiCamillio, civil engineer for Antinozzi, stated that the curb cuts along Damascus Road would be retained and that bus and parent traffic and drop-off points are separated. The revised driveway is longer, offering additional queuing to lessen congestion along Damascus during arrival and dismissal. 

According to the plans, the bus drop off is on the south side of the building and vehicle drop off is on the north side.

DiCamillio said that new sanitary and water utilities will be installed back to the service mains under Damascus Road and that stormwater management will be accommodated through plastic underground retention systems. He described the system as aggressive” and state of the art” and will improve the quality of the water flowing to the wetlands. The system goes beyond requirements,” he added.

According to the criteria response, these conform to the Connecticut Department of Public Health and the Regional Water Authority verified its ability to provide water service to support the facility.

Greg Plasdil of Fusco Construction, construction manager for the project, said steps were being taken to separate construction from the bus traffic during Phase 1 of the project. In response to questions about hours of construction, he said, generally, from 7:30 or 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Public’s Concerns and Questions

Sally E. Bahner Photo

In response, alternate commissioner Fred Russo ( At left, pointing his hand) expressed concern over obstructed views from the school’s entrance and exit. He raised a series of questions but received few answers. LoSasso responded that after review, it was determined that there were no better locations. He said the entrance and exit from Damascus Road were swapped so that additional queuing depth could be configured. It was suggested that a crossing guard be added to ensure safety.

Tim Shields, a local Guilford lawyer and parent, raised the question of how kids will be dropped off and picked up during construction. He wanted to understand the traffic pattern, a topic not discussed until now. He questioned the best way to route traffic during construction, especially with the intermingling of construction vehicles, buses, and traffic during pickup and drop off of students. 

The height of the building was questioned by Judy Hughes of Meadowwood Road. It’s a four-story building in a two-story neighborhood.” She also noted that there would be more noise with the buses moving back of the building. LoSasso said that efforts have been made to have the building conform more with the neighborhood, make it more appealing.”

Sally E. Bahner Photo

Kate Galambos (pictured) of Field Point Road expressed concerns about energy efficiency and suggested that there be plug-ins for electric cars and better access to public transportation so less parking would be needed.

Pam Roy of Featherbed Lane questioned the methods used for the demolition phase. Plasdil said that no dynamite will be used, adding that that using large equipment would result in less noise and that the process would take six to eight weeks. Roy also noted that speeding was a problem in the area.

Additional Criteria for Compliance Discussed

Town Planner Harry Smith commented that Antinozzi Associates responses to criteria for the Special Exception compliance will go a long way to assure the visual privacy will be protected, given the closeness of neighboring yards to the school property.” He said he wanted to better understand the demolition of the southern portion of the building, which is close to the property line; he expressed concern about the Norway maples along the driveway.

On the west side of the school, Smith noted that there were paths through the site leading to the Sunset Hill/Birch Road area and wondered if they could be ties into the Shoreline Greenway Trail for recreational purposes. (Judy Hughes later spoke out against that idea, citing privacy concerns.)

One of the criteria stipulated that there be no adverse effect on the neighborhood from the use of signs, exposed artificial lights, colored lights of any nature, flashing lights, loudspeakers, or other noise-making devices.”

In its response, LoSasso said that the shielded lighting planned will adhere to a zero-light-trespass onto adjacent properties and dark skies criteria” and there will be no colored or flashing lights specified. (The International Dark Skies Association provides guidelines on minimizing light pollution.)

A ground-mounted chiller, which provides air conditioning, on the site (which emits noise as it cycles) will be replaced with multiple small chillers on the roof of the three-story addition. An emergency generator will be outfitted with an enclosure to muffle the sound.

Parking Accommodations

Another criteria stipulates that parking areas must be adequate for the use and screened from adjoining residential use, and entrances and exits must be laid out to prevent traffic hazards and nuisances.

LoSasso, in his response, wrote that minimum parking requirements exceed the 305 required by the Board of Education. There will be 310 parking spaces, up from the current 233. A visitor lot will be on the north side of the school; faculty and staff parking at the rear of the building; and the majority of the parking on the south side near existing sports fields. Planting requirements are incorporated.

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