Prominent West Hartford School's Enhancement Plans Approved

WEST HARTFORD, CT — A prominent educational institution in West Hartford has big plans for its facilities, with local officials earlier this month saying "yes" to multiple plans.

In three separate votes on June 9, the West Hartford Plan and Zoning Commission approved permits for The American School for the Deaf, 137 N. Main St., West Hartford.

Those permits will allow the internationally renowned private, nonprofit school for the hard of hearing to increase its athletics program offerings and improve its maintenance operations.

Specifically, the following items were approved by the PZC for the school:

• A special use permit to build a lighted, multi-sport court complex, a multi-use track, and a synthetic turf infield area. This was approved 5-0.

• A special use permit to build a soccer field on the northeast corner of the property. This was approved 4-1 (West Hartford PZC member Liz Gillette was the lone dissenter).

• A special use permit to build a new 2,442-square-foot maintenance garage at the site. This was approved 5-0.

According to documents submitted to the PZC, the applications are part of a five- to 10-year master plan at the school to support "ASD's mission of providing exceptional educational programs and services for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals."

"This plan will enhance accessiblity, modernize facilites, and improve the overall campus experience for students, families, and staff," wrote ASD in a report to the PZC.

For the minutes of the June 9 West Hartford Plan and Zoning Commission meeting, click on this link.

To read the American School for the Deaf's master plan behind these applications, click on this link.