Tarbell School to be Reborn as Tarbell Learning Center
At their Pre-submission Review, Country Kids owner Robin Kane and one of her partners, Michael Rasmussen, received approval from Planning Board to submit a Level 1 Site Plan for their proposal to move Kane's childcare and preschool operation from its current location at RiverCourt to historic Tarbell School which will be renamed Tarbell Learning Center (TLC).
Rasmussen told the Board that there is no plan to change the Tarbell building and that all work on the structure would be internal although there may be a need for waivers for the top floor. "The issue that we are up against is that we need to make sure that we can get a special permit and site plan review before the actual acquisition of the property... We are seeking to get Country Kids in as soon as possible," Rasmussen said.
He commented that they had talked with the Board of Health about possible uses of the second floor, which would also be educational. He noted that there are currently at least 18 parking spaces, but believed that more would be needed. The group has not yet prepared a lighting plan or a design for the ADA compliant ramp.
Member Russ Burke said that he was concerned about parking and suggested that an engineer do the layout. "We don't need a development impact statement or traffic study because this has just moved up from RiverCourt to Tarbell," Burke said. Colleague Tim Svarczkopf asked for more detail on stacking cars and traffic circulation.
In other business, Planning Board waived the site plan review for a proposal from RiverCourt to turn space currently used for storage, into a 200 sq. ft. conference room and a 600 sq. ft. fitness center. David Hamilton, president of Capstone, owners of RiverCourt, told the Board, "The space was never finished when we did the renovation 10 years ago, and this proposal is based on demand from our residents for a fitness area... it is internal to the existing structure and will be limited to residents and staff."
Planners agreed to send a letter of support to Community Preservation Committee on behalf of a proposal from Groton Housing Authority for their application for $15,847 to purchase a generator for the septic system to be used in the event of a power outage. Housing Authority member Dan Emerson said that Petapawaug Housing on Rte. 40 has to pump the sewage up over the hill. Total cost for the pump is $22,847 with $7K from DHCD.
Because the Authority uses state funds, they have to comply with the prevailing union wage. Affordable Housing Coordinator Fran Stanley said that they view this as an insurance policy so that the apartments would not become uninhabitable due to septic failure.
