SOUTHWICK – The Southwick Planning Board is considering a request from the Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional schools to relocate the playground at the Powdermill Middle School, which is now an intermediate school.
Town Planner Alan Slessler said the school department approached him to make sure they did not need any special permits to move the playground, which includes two swing sets and a climbing structure.
“They want to move it south by the gymnasium,” Slessler said.
The reason for the move is the area floods in rainstorms. Located next to the parking lot on the Feeding Hills Road side of the building, the playground becomes a mud field when it rains.
“Since they won’t be disturbing more than an acre of land they don’t need a stormwater review,” said Slessler. “They want to demolish the playground and move it south.”
The other concern is that the playground is on top of the septic.
“So it shouldn’t be there anyway,” said Slessler.
Planning Board Chairperson Roz Terry said there is no need for a site plan review and she does not see any problems with the request, but because there are several new board members she wanted to extend a vote to approve until the next meeting.
“We have such a new board that I want to hold off and everyone can take a look at it,” she said.
The board is set to meet again Sept. 8.
