Independent Consultants: A Move to North Center School Would Be Beneficial

Three outside consultants have recommended moving several town departments to the North Center School facility on North Main Street Thursday afternoon, saying a move could only be beneficial to the central business zone, regardless of which departments were relocated.

James A. Moore, Senior Vice President of National Community Planning and Urban Design, Planner and Urban Geographer Donald J. Poland of Hartford, and Mark D. Waterhouse of Garnet Consulting Services, each gave his blessing to the project Thursday afternoon following a three-hour in-depth discussion with town officials and members of the Planning and Zoning Commission.

“Their position was pretty clear, that it won’t make a difference either way which departments are relocated, and if the project moves forward, it could have a positive impact with the Board of Education also moving to North Center,” Town Manager Garry Brumback said.

“Their recommendation was that a move could benefit land use departments the most because the space needs are so dire,” he said.

The latest recommendation comes following a that was presented Tuesday which indicated that a move, including one that would relocate land-use departments, would have a minimal impact on the central business zone.

Brumback hired the consultants for approximately $4,000 after Planning and Zoning Commission members, including Paul Chaplinsky Jr. and Steve Kalkowski, presented concerns on March 14 about the effect a move would have on businesses and land values. The commission ultimately voted 4-3 after extensive debate to restrict certain departments, including the land-use departments, from relocating away from Town Hall.

If approved, the project would allow the town to sell, lease, and eventually buy back a renovated facility at the North Center School in eight years in order to address space needs at Town Hall.

The project would lead to departments moving out of the Gura Building, which is in need of repair, and also allow the Board of Education offices to relocate from the Beecher Street facility, which is approaching its 100th anniversary. The building would then be given back to the town.

Chaplinsky and Kalkowski, who expressed concerns that not enough data was available during the March 14 Planning and Zoning Commission meeting, both said they were impressed by the efforts of Brumback, School Superintendent Joseph V. Erardi Jr., and Town Attorney Mark Sciota to collect the data requested in such an expedited manner.

Although the initial restrictions placed on the project would have made it impossible to justify the move, according to Brumback, Chaplinsky was clear in stating Thursday that his intentions were never to put a stop to the project. He and Kalkowski both said they have always been in favor of the effort, but needed more information to make the right decision.

“There’s been discussion of Planning and Zoning holding up the process, but the Town of Southington came to the commission as a special permit applicant,” Chaplinsky said. “Whether it’s from a private entity or town department, we are charged with holding them to the same standard and asking them to provide necessary information from an outside, unbiased source.”

“We can now safely say that we have done our research and provided transparency in the process,” he said.

Kalkowski echoed Chaplinsky’s comments and said that he felt the latest information provides a more complete picture and the necessary data for commission members to make an informed decision.

He said a tour of Southington Town Hall with the outside consultants and subsequent walk to the school, as well as back along the linear trail, helped in bringing all the information together.

The commission will reenter discussions during its upcoming meeting on April 5.

“At this point, we now have the data. I haven’t made a complete decision yet,” Kalkowski said. “I will be spending the next few days reviewing all the information thoroughly and will be prepared to vote on any new motions that may come to the table.”