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Commission declines to support proposed Windham Woods sports dome near Searles School
Summary
The Commission voted 3-0 on June 18 to not support a proposed 125,000-square-foot sports dome for Windham Woods School at 41 Range Road / 3 Delahunty Drive, citing impacts on the historic setting near the Searles School and Chapel; Peter Griffin recused from the discussion.
At its June 18 meeting in the Community Development Department Conference Room, the Commission voted 3-0 to not support a proposed sports dome for Windham Woods School at 41 Range Road / 3 Delahunty Drive. Peter Griffin recused from consideration of the project and Derek Saffie chaired the discussion.
Joe Maynard of Benchmark LLC presented the proposal on behalf of Windham Woods School, describing a dome of approximately 125,000 square feet with an attached conventional building of about 9,000 square feet (two to three stories), a maximum height of 74 feet, capacity for roughly 1,000 people, and 284 parking spaces. Maynard said the dome would be located about 378 feet from the Searles School and Chapel. He also described stormwater management measures including catch basins and drainage; the proposed exterior color was light gray and could include a mural to help screen the structure.
Commissioners raised concerns about the project’s scale and its potential effect on the historic setting of Range Road and the ongoing use of the Searles School and Chapel as an events venue, which they said contributes to the property’s maintenance and preservation. Commissioner Doreen Demone requested that, were the project approved, the applicant install a new solid fence along the Searles School property line, specifying an 8-foot height and larger plantings to provide screening.
Brad Dinsmore (Alternate) moved that the Commission not support the project “due to its impact on the area surrounding the Searles School and the historic setting of Range Road.” The motion was seconded by Doreen Demone (Alternate) and passed 3-0; Peter Griffin was recorded as recused from the vote. The minutes do not record next steps such as a formal referral to another board or a return hearing by the applicant.
The decision to withhold support was a formal advisory position by the Commission recorded in the meeting minutes. No formal approval or permitting action by the Commission was recorded; the transcript does not specify whether the applicant will revise the proposal or seek approvals from other bodies.
The meeting also included procedural votes on the regular meeting time and the July schedule.
