Pittsfield council backs school district site and supports discontinuing School Street pending approvals

A school‑district presenter told the Pittsfield Town Council on Sept. 16 that after a thorough site search and several feasibility studies the district recommends placing a new PreK–8 on the existing school parcel and asked the council for formal support to pursue required approvals.

The presenter said geotechnical and environmental assessments, traffic and site analyses, and ownership of the existing parcel led the district to favor reusing the current site rather than acquiring new land. For safety, the presenter described a plan to separate bus traffic from visitor drop‑off with two loops — a bus‑only loop and a visitor loop — connected by controlled emergency access. The presenter asked the council to support discontinuing School Street where it traverses the parcel so circulation could be reconfigured; any discontinuance would follow state statute and be contingent on the state board of education approving the new school project and a local referendum.

During public and council questions, residents and council members pressed for specifics on where School Street would terminate, how construction traffic would be routed and plowed, and whether underground utilities (sewer, drainage, power) would require easements. The presenter said the plan includes turnaround areas, coordination with public works, and forthcoming meetings with the fire and police departments to confirm hydrant and Knox Box locations. The presenter estimated a timeline of a spring referendum, roughly a year of additional design and about two years of construction after approvals.

At the meeting the council read and adopted Resolution 2593, which expresses formal support to discontinue School Street where it crosses the parcel, while maintaining the public right‑of‑way up to the southern and easterly property lines and making the action contingent on state board approval and voter approval. The motion passed by voice vote.

Next steps noted at the meeting include continued coordination between the school district and town public works, more detailed design and easement discussions as necessary, and the scheduling of a referendum. The council did not adopt construction documents at this meeting; it provided policy-level support to pursue approvals.