Neighbor Questions & Answers from June 28, 2022 Meeting

July 15, 2022

Dear Green Hedges Neighbors,

Thank you again for attending the neighbor meeting held on June 28, 2022. Below please find answers to questions that were asked during the meeting; comments and suggestions are not reflected here. We understand that more questions have been documented since the last meeting. Green Hedges will review these questions and should we have answers to them at this time, we will send a follow-up email to you.

Neighbor Questions & Answers

Will each phase of the project be about 5 years?

There will be an approximate 5-year period between the three phases. The period between phases depends on fundraising and permitting.

Do you have any idea when you plan on filing the application?

The plan is to file in August or September.

Do you have to have that path along the neighbors?

The School is exploring providing a walking/running trail on school property.

What buffer would be between that trail and my property line?

The School is planning for a fence and plantings.

In 2008, Green Hedges indicated that the gym had to be located next to the School campus. In this proposal, it is clearly not and you talk about the parking lot bifurcating your campus and now you have a driveway and children going across. Is there a reason why it is now located away from the campus?

The gymnasium is still to be located on the campus. The new plan shows a two-lane drive instead of the parking lot and drive between the main academic building and the new gymnasium; it will be a controlled drive, meaning cars are not allowed to utilize this drive during the school day other than at specific times of day, those being during drop off and pick up. The proposed condition is much safer for children going between the main academic building and the gymnasium throughout the course of the day.

You’ve already been approved for 31.2% lot coverage and now you are asking for 40%. What’s the driver?

The driver is the programmatic need for built academic space. Benchmarking against similar academic institutions’ programs has shown that Green Hedges is in need of additional square footage per student.

Is there going to be a buffer for the entire perimeter of the school, dense mature planting, or is it just where the parking lots are to be?

A buffer will be provided for the entire perimeter of the campus. The landscaping buffer will be heaviest between parking lots and houses, utilizing evergreens with the idea being that these will be the most opaque.

Is it possible for these dense mature plantings to be 30 feet deep?

The dense mature plantings will not be 30 feet deep, nor wide. For reference, the required setback by the zoning code for built structures is 30 feet for side yards.

Will other noise abatement be built in order to protect the neighbors from the sounds of the School?

Noise abatements include shrubbery, vegetation, and attention to hours of operation including when school is in session throughout the year as well as approved hours for rentable spaces.

In 2008, GHS said they would not rent out the underground gym. Is that still the case in 2022?

The 2007 CUP does in fact state that the underground gym is rentable per the Town Order. This is taken from the order-

If you are going to rent out the gym, does it have to be until 9 p.m.? I’d like for you to consider cutting those hours shorter in deference to the neighbors.

The School is not asking for a change in the rental hours.

Will there be sidewalks on Windover Ave. built by Green Hedges?

Sidewalks are not currently proposed on Windover Avenue. The School will discuss sidewalks with the Town as well as the existing mature trees along Windover Avenue.

Is there a reason those decks need to be overlooking the residential neighbors on Knoll Street? And could those upper decks be placed in front of the building so that it’s on the interior and looking into the backyard neighbors’ windows?

The intention is for the decks to provide outdoor space for students on the second floor. The School will continue to evaluate the need and location for such decks.

Can you move the parking lot closer to the building and the playing field closer to Nutley Street?

In considering the usage of the playing field throughout the day, with the safety of the children in mind, the preference is to keep the field closer to the interior of campus, near the campus buildings, and away from the street.

Will there be a stack-up of 50 cars?

There will be space to queue 56 cars on the School property to ensure that no vehicles will stack on adjacent streets.

What is going to happen with the 206 property?

At present, the School intends to keep the 206 Lewis property as a rental for Green Hedges personnel.

Have any changes been made to the plan since the Planning Commission meeting?

No changes have been made, only clarifications in response to questions raised.

What is Green Hedges comparing its square footage to? Elementary schools? Private schools?

The architecture firm Green Hedges works with, Voith & Mactavish Architects, did some benchmarking against other schools they have worked with. These were independent schools, and age-specific, as the square footage per student varies depending on the age of the student. The firm found that in:

● Pre-K thru Lower School, the average they see is 50 square feet/student

● Middle School, the average they see is 35-40 square feet/student

Green Hedges has less than all of these; particularly the older students in the Lower School and Middle Schoolers.

How do you plan to address the drainage problem?

The School is working with Gordon Engineering to review the Storm Management Water Plan. Any plans will meet state stormwater standards, which are more stringent than when the School was constructed.

Can you address the chestnut trees that hang over my property line?

Green Hedges can look to cut them back during the construction.

Where will the trash dumpsters be located?

This will be determined at a later date once the School is further along in the process.

Will the water issues that have been documented be addressed?

The School's Civil Engineers are working on the Stormwater Management Plan.

Can we meet again?

We will certainly inform neighbors of when we plan to meet again.

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