Stonington PZC approves Deans Mill School project
Stonington — The Planning and Zoning Commission approved plans Tuesday for the expansion and renovation of Deans Mill School.
The work at Deans Mill is part of the $67 million renovation and expansion of both Deans Mill and West Vine Street schools approved by voters last year.
The commission postponed its public hearing Tuesday on similar plans for West Vine Street School until Nov. 15 so the Inland Wetlands Commission can rule on a wetlands permit for the project.
Plans for Deans Mill School call for demolishing a large section of the school and building an addition for a total of 62,000 square feet.
The school, which now houses 426 students in kindergarten through fourth grade, would have 523 students in pre-kindergarten through fifth grade when the work is completed.
During the work at Deans Mill, students will be transitioned between the section of the school under renovation and the new addition, which will be constructed first.
Last week, the town learned it had been successful in its effort to obtain waivers that will increase state reimbursement for the project from 25 to 32 percent, or about $20 million.
The project overwhelmingly was approved by voters in 2015. The 15-month construction period is projected to commence in April 2017 and be completed in July 2018. Money has been included in the project to bring in portable classrooms to house students if needed.
The project is designed to get another 50 years of life out of the two 48-year-old buildings. Neither school has received an update since they were built in 1967. The town spent $800,000 in 2014 to make emergency repairs to the Deans Mill School roof.
Comment threads are monitored for 48 hours after publication and then closed.
