Planning board approves site-plan modifications for Coakley Middle School; sets conditions for athletic field netting and signage

The Norwood Planning Board on Oct. 1 approved a continued site-plan modification for Coakley Middle School, 315 Washington St., clearing a set of construction changes and attaching two timing conditions for the school’s new athletic fields.

Anissa Ellis, a project representative from engineering firm Vertex, reviewed a spreadsheet of changes submitted to the planning department. The revisions she summarized included adding ADA parking spaces near the Little League field, installing a timber guardrail and granite curbing at the rear driveway, minor asphalt pads around fire hydrants per the fire department’s request, relocation and enclosure of compactors and dumpsters, and revisions to the Washington Street crosswalk to align new ramps and warning surfaces.

Ellis said plantings around the north end of the building and near the new fields have been changed to native species and that a landscape architect will report monthly on plantings. She also described work to add a walking path at field level, noting that the path’s exact alignment remained under discussion and could shift toward the brook to make room at the slope toe.

Board members and engineering staff discussed slope stability for a grassy embankment behind the field. Gary (civil engineer, name given in the record) said vegetated slopes are typically acceptable to a 3:1 horizontal-to-vertical ratio (about 33.3 percent); steeper slopes can be stabilized to 2.5:1 with soil stabilization measures. He recommended seed mixes with deeper root bases if the slope required vegetative stabilization rather than shrubs or structures.

Public speakers raised several concerns and questions during the hearing: Jim Kerker asked whether planting lists and nursery sources would be local; the applicant said the planting schedule is included in submitted paperwork and the project team would follow up on nursery sourcing. Cheryl Doyle questioned chain-link fencing on a retaining wall and recommended adding top and bottom rails for durability; project staff said they would investigate and report back.

The board considered two recommended conditions proposed by planning staff: installation of netting behind both goalposts to protect sidewalks and roadways from errant balls, and installation of required no-parking signage around the rear driveway. Planning staff recommended netting be installed “prior to first use of the field” or within 60 days of the hearing, and signage to be installed within 15 days. The board voted to approve the site-plan modification with those conditions.

Motion and vote: A board member moved approval, Joe (board member) seconded, and the motion passed by voice vote. The planning board’s decision notes that netting must be installed before the field is placed into use (or within 60 days of the hearing) and that the no-parking signage must be installed within 15 days of the hearing. The record also notes the project team removed several parking spaces at the request of the fire department to preserve turning space for emergency vehicles and that additional ADA-accessible spaces were added where required.

The applicant will provide updated plans and follow up with planning staff on the outstanding items (fence details, compactor enclosures, and any final walking-path alignment).