Board waives site-plan review and refers Masters School theater design to AHRB

Representatives for Masters School presented a renovation plan for the campus theater at 49 Clinton Avenue, telling the board the project aims to modernize the existing 1970s-era building while retaining and reusing as much existing structure as possible. Brad Schwartz of Zarin & Steinmetz said the team hopes the board will "grant that waiver tonight and then set us to AHRB," and architect Bailey Topper described a roughly 10-foot lobby bump-out to accommodate a 1:20 ramp and other accessibility improvements.

Topper said the project would reuse existing steel and concrete where feasible, add about 2,000 square feet of new impervious surface primarily for accessible entries, and provide a green roof and a landscaped courtyard that will feature four relocated and reglazed historic stained-glass windows. She emphasized that most interior renovations are subject to building-permit review and that exterior/site elements are the planning board's and AHRB's purview.

Trustees moved to defer review of the exterior improvements to the Architectural and Historic Review Board and to waive formal site-plan review for the limited exterior elements, following the building inspector's recommendation. The board voted to defer and to waive the site plan; the record shows two trustees recused themselves from votes on the matter because of ties to the school.

Trustees and staff said the AHRB will receive samples and materials for architectural review and that the building department will continue to process interior permits. No final design approvals were made at the board level; the actions were procedural steps to route the matter to the appropriate review bodies.