New London Planning Commission meets

By Robert Cloud

Scott Bleck, New London School District administrator, met with the New London Planning Commission to discuss the upcoming construction project at Parkview Elementary School.

A 4,200-square-foot addition will be built in the asphalt space currently on the southeast side of the school.

The project will include two classrooms, plus other improvements to the cafeteria/gym.

A new entrance and new sidewalk to Jennings Street are also planned.

Designers say the new entrance will makes community use and after school programming more feasible since the rest of the building can be locked down.

Melanie Parma, with Summerville Architect and Engineer Services, said the exterior of the addition will use materials, brick and metal panels, and colors that match the existing building.

The cafeteria/gym will be redesigned to allow tables to hang from the walls when not in use.

Additional storage space for the tables is also part of the design.

“We have looked at the gym/cafeteria space with an acoustic consultant,” Parma said.

Thicker wall panels will be used to absorb some of the sound.

The Planning Commission voted to approve Parkview’s site plan.

Communications

Planning Commission members also discussed issues some of them are having with receiving information packets prior to the meetings.

Cindy Goller and Susan Steingraber said they did not receive their packets.

“I think we need to update our contact information,” Goller said.

“I agree,” Steingraber said. “It would give us more time to be prepared.”

The problem seems to stem from the city’s attempt to email the packets.

Not every member’s email address is included on the distribution list.

One member does not have email.

“This is the first time I haven’t been notified,” Steingraber said.

Mayor Gary Henke recommended the information be sent out both as hard copy in the mail and digitally through email.

City Administrator Lou Leone said he would work to resolve the communication issues and make sure all the email addresses are up to date.

Leone also said he would ask all commission members if they prefer hard copy or emails.