Planning board backs local authorization to match state reauthorization for West Hill High School replacement

The Stamford Planning Board voted unanimously on Feb. 3 to forward a supplemental capital authorization that aligns the city’s local approval with recently enacted state reauthorization for the West Hill High School replacement project.

Catherine, the project presenter, told the board the state legislature recently approved special legislation increasing the project authorization to $446 million and preserving an 80% state reimbursement rate. That change, she said, requires the city to amend its local fiscal‑year capital authorization so the town’s authorization matches the state action.

“We are looking tonight to align the local authorization with what has been activated by the legislature this past summer,” Catherine said, describing a design‑development estimate that settled at about $446 million after value‑management steps. She said the state’s reimbursement will cover the majority of the costs and that the local share for this adjustment is roughly $36 million.

Adam Levitis, the project team’s owner’s representative, described how the construction‑phase (hard‑cost) estimate reconciled near $404 million before final bid openings and that the guaranteed maximum price the city will receive should be closer to the construction‑cost estimate. “The reconciled construction‑document phase estimates were just over $404 million,” he said, adding the team expected the GMP to come in nearer that figure once bids are opened.

Project staff said the city went through multiple rounds of value management and cost estimating as the design matured: an earlier legislative step raised the authorization to $301 million in 2023, schematic design later pushed estimates significantly higher, and subsequent design development produced the current $446 million figure that the legislature authorized.

The presenters outlined the procurement timeline: the team had issued bid packages in December and planned to open bids on Feb. 11, with a target to present a GMP to the board of finance in mid‑March and a special finance meeting planned for later in March. Groundbreaking was described as tentatively anticipated in April, contingent on procurement and final authorizations.

Board members pressed the team on contingencies and the city’s options if bids exceed the authorization. Catherine said the team will proceed with scope reviews and negotiations; should bids come in above the authorized envelope, the team would need to revisit scope, pricing and potential further approvals.

After discussion, a member moved to approve the supplemental authorization for transmittal; the motion was seconded and carried unanimously. The board’s transmittal will go next to the board of finance for final local authorization.

What’s next: The project team said they expect bids to be opened Feb. 11 and planned to return with a GMP recommendation in March. The planning board’s vote forwards the local authorization consistent with the state’s action but is not the final spending approval; the board of finance will act on the local appropriation next.