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Select Board hears detailed Pollard Middle School schematic design and zoning amendment
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Summary
Architects and project staff presented a schematic‑design update and a zoning bylaw amendment to allow a four‑story (up to 60 ft) Pollard Middle School with adjusted setbacks, an FAR of 0.42 and on‑site parking requirements; the design team targets a June MSBA schematic submission and a budget target near $311 million.
The Select Board on March 24 received a detailed schematic‑design briefing for the Pollard Middle School replacement project and reviewed a draft zoning bylaw amendment required to proceed to the May town meeting.
Design team representatives (HMFH and Bond Building Construction, the selected construction manager at risk) described changes in the zoning amendment: it would allow a four‑story building up to 60 feet in height in the single‑residence B district for the middle school, authorize a floor‑area ratio of 0.42 and 20% site coverage, and calls for doubling building setbacks to 50 feet (from 25) if the school reaches four stories (the setback change applies to the building footprint, not to surface parking). The bylaw would also set parking at one space per full‑time equivalent teacher/staff plus 20% for visitors — the team estimated an on‑site requirement of roughly 260 spaces for a fully populated school.
The team showed site plans and sections demonstrating how the building terraces into a 30‑foot grade change between Harris Avenue and the field side to reduce the visual impact on abutters. Architects said they had lowered the building profile relative to previous iterations and had “sunk the whole building down one story” so portions facing neighbors appear only two stories from street level.
Schedule and budget milestones: the project team said feasibility is complete, schematic design is underway and they are targeting a schematic submission to the Massachusetts School Building Authority on June 24. The team said a project scope and budget agreement will follow schematic design and that a guaranteed maximum price (GMP) will be negotiated after construction documents and subcontractor bidding; they set a working target of about $311,000,000 while acknowledging it is not guaranteed.
The board and audience raised questions about which portions of the building will be four stories versus two or three; the team explained the terraced approach and pointed to the site sections and rooftop setbacks. Town staff confirmed the CMR (Bond Building Construction Inc.) is on board to assist with cost estimating and early procurement, and the finance director is preparing tax‑impact analyses tied to the school master plan budget.
Board members thanked the team and emphasized continued attention to cost containment, neighborhood impacts and public engagement as design proceeds to the MSBA submission and the subsequent sequence of town approvals and a probable override vote if debt financing is required.
