New School Building Committee Presents Plans To Town's P&Z Commission

MADISON, CT – Over the past 10 years, the New Elementary School Building Committee has been working on a 4-school model for a new school; on June 15, the committee took the next step and presented its plan to Madison’s Planning and Zoning Commission.

Graham Curtis, chairman of the New Elementary School Building Committee, said the project was approved last February, and they’ve been working on the design phase until now.

Curtis said the town previously purchased the property and did a land transfer with the Madison Land Trust to facilitate the configuration of the parcel.

During the design phase, the New Elementary School Building Committee held multiple public outreach and special meetings to hear neighbors' concerns.

One of those concerns was about there needing to be sidewalks on Munger Town Road.

“This plan provides a sidewalk on the parcel,” Justin Hopkins, project architect, said.

Hopkins said the proposed elementary school will consist of 640 students ranging from pre-k to 5th grade with two levels to the building.

Describing the drop-off/pick-up location, Hopkins said the plan was to ensure all cars were off the street during pickup and drop-off times.

“We are also incorporating a geothermal well field as part of the project along with solar arrays,” he said.

Town Planner Erin Mannix said the project will head to Madison’s Inland Wetlands in July before returning to the planning and zoning commission.

Madison’s Planning and Zoning Commission voted to keep the hearing open and to continue the hearing to the July 20 meeting.