Neighbors ask for taller screening, clearer updates as Meadowbrook construction advances
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Summary
At a July board meeting neighbors raised concerns that proposed six-foot replacement trees and building paneling at Meadowbrook may not provide adequate visual screening; the superintendent said architects will present preliminary designs to the buildings and grounds committee in coming weeks and staff will provide community updates.
Neighbors near the Meadowbrook school told the Board of Education they are concerned that planned landscaping and exterior finishes will not adequately screen the school construction from adjacent yards and asked the district to provide more regular construction updates. The concerns focused on tree height and building finishes. A resident said the plan to install six-foot trees would not fully screen the site because neighboring yards sit about 3 to 5 feet higher than the Meadowbrook field line, meaning newly planted six-foot trees could effectively appear only about three feet above adjacent ground for several years. The resident also said the district has shifted exterior colors toward green and navy and requested that the northern side of the building — the side closest to neighbors — avoid visible colored paneling. Superintendent (title only) responded that architects and district staff have met intermittently since the last board meeting and that the architects are preparing materials to present to the buildings and grounds committee “a few weeks before the next board meeting.” The superintendent said the district plans to continue providing community updates as information becomes available and noted Samantha, the district’s new director of communications, will help circulate updates to the public. On scheduling, the superintendent told the board there have been only a couple of meetings between the architects and the district during the summer and that the buildings and grounds committee is expected to receive preliminary Meadowbrook designs before the next full board meeting. The superintendent said the district will share information with the community “as soon as we’re able to.” The resident requested an explicit opportunity for neighbors to hear ongoing updates about collaboration and construction plans; the superintendent acknowledged the request and said staff would record and follow up on community concerns. No formal action or vote was taken on the screening or color requests during the meeting.