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Staff and architects outline Hartwood Elementary rebuild, board presses on access, parking and park use
Summary
Architects showed a three‑story prototype design for the new Hartwood Elementary and staff discussed a single primary entrance, stormwater design, wetlands constraints and potential future park fields. Board members pressed county staff on deed/subdivision status, public access, parking and safety measures.
Architects from Samaha and Stafford County staff presented a schematic design and site plan for the proposed Hartwood Elementary rebuild at the school board work session on Sept. 9.
Tom Lee of Samaha walked board members through a vicinity plan that shows the site adjacent to a proposed 700‑home West Lakes development and the planned Brigade Boulevard extension. He described the site constraints—wetlands, a water tower and a single current entrance—and explained the plan includes stormwater management ponds, a kiss‑and‑ride loop, roughly 130 parking spaces and queuing for arrival/dismissal.
Board members focused on operational and long‑term issues: concerns voiced repeatedly included whether the stormwater ponds would be fenced, how the district would secure fee simple title to the portion of parcel it will use, whether the county’s proffers and developer road connections will create new access points, and how future county park fields adjacent to the school would be accessed and managed without creating safety or parking problems for the school during the day. “We have to identify what portion of this parcel is going to be conveyed in fee simple to Stafford County schools,” a board member said, urging clarity before the division spends more on design.
Staff said county supervisors have discussed proffering parts of the parcel, that county staff and legal will coordinate with the school division to draft an agreement (an MOU or proffer language), and that the district will aim to avoid investing heavily in improvements until parcel boundaries and deed language are firmed up. On recreational fields, staff proposed working with the county parks and recreation office to define access windows, parking arrangements and possible off‑peak public use subject to board‑approved terms.
Other design points included: the prototype building places the cafeteria and main entrance at the front, gym above cafeteria, two elevators for three stories, 38 general education classrooms and flexibility for future adaptation if enrollment changes. Staff said they expect to submit plans to county review within two to three weeks and to return to the board with updated platting/deed information in November or December.
Ending: Staff flagged a practical timing issue—construction is not planned to begin until fall of 2026–2027, but design and soils staging are on the near‑term path; the board asked staff to return with clarifying documents about deeded parcels, proffer language and a draft agreement on future park access and parking.
