Though there still is nothing visible stirring on campus, children aside, the project is alive, active, and moving in the desired direction. To spend a little time with the intricacies of the site plan—the engineering design that documents and directs all construction activity related to changes to the campus lay of the land—one quickly comes to appreciate the complex, shared, and highly sensitive environmental responsibility that exists between the school and its watershed and neighbors downstream. In essence, the quality and quantity of every drop of water that falls upon and eventually runs off of the campus is under scrutiny and must be controlled so as to limit its impact on species, habitats, and communities beyond our sight. Ultimately, obtaining site plan approvals—the element of the state and county approvals process that assesses the proposed management and control of changes to the school’s precious seven acres of earth, and which rest between this update and groundbreaking—boils down to an agreement to do no harm when it comes to disturbance of soils, streams, and the balance of the local ecosystem in general all the way out to and including the natural and struggling wonder that is the Chesapeake Bay.
So, in many ways, the site design and the agreements made therein are at the very heart of developing a green campus, reducing the school’s eco-footprint, and being the good Montessori land steward we strive to be. When one considers the extensive site plan review process through this more holistic prism, while a tedious and often frustrating endeavor, it is non-negotiable necessity. Could it be a more streamlined yet equally diligent process on the county end? Probably. Could we be more patient with the county’s role as the designated protector of the area’s natural resources? Probably. In the end, is it worth the time, effort and expense on the part of all involved to get it right? Absolutely.
With this in mind here is where things stand in the approvals chain: There are four remaining, interlocking steps to obtaining the coveted building permits:
- Grading permit: In its last review for concept approval (fingers and shovels crossed); final approval typically is soon to follow.
- Storm Water Management permit: Same status as Grading.
- Erosion & Sediment Control permit: This is a state permit and the last to be navigated. The application was recently submitted, and we are working closely with the state to expedite the review period.
- Environmental Agreement: The final step in which the school provides the county with a form of financial security that ensures completion of the all of the site work exactly as approved. This process is underway.
How does this all translate into timing? In our last update we presented a best-case scenario of a November start and, even though that might be November 30, we are still striving to maintain that schedule. As always, the timetable is a goal, not a given.
A final note on a developing construction topic that is sure to be near and dear to your hearts: traffic management. To do everything possible to minimize inconvenience—and there will certainly be a degree of shared inconvenience, especially during Phase 1 that stretches throughout this school year—the project team has been working to develop as many traffic flow and coordination options as are practical to ease congestion during the morning drop off. Our construction management firm, Southway Builders, is doing all it can to accommodate the need to create ample and reliable access and egress patterns during critical times of the day. And while we will all need to be part of the solution in some small way on a day-to-day basis, solutions are surfacing. As soon as they are more set in stone, or gravel or dirt or asphalt, we will share these plans with you well in advance of any changes to the current campus routines. Promise.
As always, should there be any questions or concerns, please reach out to Shanie Nelson, Director of Advancement, at snelson@www.greenspringmontessori-b.dev. We will continue to keep you updated.
