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Medford High School MSBA update: deed restriction discovered on athletic fields; design options and Article 97 discussed
Summary
During an extensive MSBA update the district said MSBA requested clarifications to the educational plan and space summary. Reviewers discovered a 999-year deed restriction affecting portions of Edgerly Field and the football practice field; the project team presented options to redesign to avoid the restriction or pursue an Article 97 process. The committee and consultants said cost estimating and schedule implications are being evaluated.
District leaders and project consultants provided a detailed update on the Medford High School project and the district’s response to MSBA feedback on the educational plan.
Dr. Gussy (presenting the update) said MSBA requests focused on clarifying how spaces will be used, schedule implications and program collocation. The project team responded by refining the space summary and educational-plan language, consolidating some maker spaces into a single "innovation lab," and outlining auditorium seating options ranging from roughly 300–1,000 seats to inform MSBA cost allowances.
During the PDP review the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) alerted the team to a deed restriction that covers parts of Edgerly Field and the adjacent football practice field. The restriction—described in the update as a 999-year restriction—limits nonrecreational construction on the affected parcels. The team said the restriction affects three of the previously developed design options.
Project staff told the committee they will present revised designs at the building committee meeting that steer clear of the restricted areas while preserving the project’s no-modular posture where feasible. Consultants said MSBA is aware of the restriction and that options include reorienting buildings to avoid restricted parcels or pursuing an Article 97 land-use process to lift or alter the restriction, a route that carries cost and timing implications and requires legislative action.
Member Reinfeld and others voiced frustration that the restriction had not been identified earlier; project staff said they alerted MSBA upon discovery and are coordinating with the state delegation and DCR. Consultants said the PDT responses and updated PDP materials will be shared with the school committee and building committee and that the cost estimates have been adjusted to reflect space reductions and revised assumptions.
No formal vote on project scope was taken at this meeting; the committee was briefed and will consider revised designs and costings at the building committee meeting later in the week.
