During two meetings last Thursday, representatives from the teams commissioned to build Lexington’s new high school answered questions about the environmental impact of the building project.
The sessions were part of the state-mandated environmental justice outreach process, an initiative that requires developers to determine the impact of development to surrounding communities. Engineers from SMMA, the architecture firm on the Lexington High School (LHS) building project; Dore + Whittier, the owner’s project manager; and BSC Group, a civil engineering firm, addressed the project’s compliance with the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA), discussed goals outlined by the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA), and answered questions from residents.
Julie Goldberg, civil designer at BSC Group, noted that the new high school would be fully electric, using a ground-source heat pump for heating and cooling, and that renewable energy systems such as solar panels would be installed.
“The solar PV system, which will be on the site and on the building’s roof, will be installed to achieve net-zero energy for the building, as well as a large battery storage system as part of the project,” Goldberg said. Those green features align with Massachusetts’ Specialized Stretch Energy Code, which targets high energy performance and reduced carbon emissions.
The panel also assured attendees that care would be taken to minimize noise, dust and disruption to ongoing learning in the old LHS building during construction of the new building nearby. LEED certification would also ensure compliance with air quality standards.
“Temporary construction impacts will be minimized through best management practices,” Erin Prestileo, a director of site design at SMMA, said.
Some residents at the meeting still expressed concerns. Esther Jun, a Lexington parent, said she worried that construction noise could distract students during the school day. Leduc acknowledged the challenge, noting that crews must operate during daytime hours in accordance with Lexington’s noise bylaws. Flooding was another focal point of discussion, with some residents questioning whether the site’s flood risk had been fully accounted for.
“I’ve seen a map that shows the building site falls within FEMA-designated Flood Zone A, which carries a 1% annual risk of flooding. That means there’s a real possibility of flooding over the lifetime of the school,” Lexington resident Carol Sacerdote said.
In response, Goldberg said the project team is in the process of applying to FEMA to revise the floodplain mapping. The updated maps would remove the Zone A designation from the site, allowing the school to avoid building within a recognized flood zone.
Attendees were also concerned with the proposal of building on top of existing wetlands.
“The service that those wetlands are providing now to Vinebrook will be lost because the water is going to be impounded,” Lexington resident Jim Williams said.
Leaders stated that despite the building’s location, they have already taken measures to protect local waterways.
“We have proposed bioretention areas, improving water quality that eventually drains to those wetland areas,” Goldberg said. The project leaders noted they must follow state law in constructing near wetlands. A forthcoming Environmental Impact Report would ensure protection of sensitive ecological areas.
The panel also noted that although 50 parking spots are being added to accommodate the district office’s relocation, the team is working to ensure the expansion does not increase the site’s environmental impact.
“We’re really working hard to reduce the impervious cover of the project, which has impacts on the environment and stormwater management,” Goldberg said.
You can watch the full meetings here: