By Geena Monahan—For the North Star Reporter
The Planning Board has approved a special permit for the town’s new high school, clearing a key regulatory step for one of the largest and most expensive capital projects in the town’s history.
The approval, issued at the board’s meeting on April 9, allows the project to proceed under a site plan review, following last year’s voter-approved Proposition 2 1/2 debt exclusion and the start of borrowing earlier this year.bThe decision formalizes the board’s sign-off on the project’s site design, stormwater management plans and construction conditions.
Architect Rob Fitzgerald of Dore + Whittier told the board the proposal has undergone multiple rounds of review, including traffic and civil engineering analysis, as well as peer review by outside consultants.
As part of that process, the project team will conduct an additional groundwater study on a portion of the site east of the existing high school to confirm whether a planned stormwater infiltration system is appropriate or if a detention system will be required.
“There’s another independent engineer we’ve hired that will begin doing borings specifically in this area,” Fitzgerald said. “The results will help dictate whether we convert from an infiltration system to a detention-type system.”
Board members discussed oversight measures tied to stormwater infrastructure, including how underground systems will be documented during phased construction without delaying progress.
The board also approved several conditions with the permit, including modifications to documentation requirements and the addition of Department of Public Works-related provisions. Member Greg Walsh recused himself from the vote, which otherwise passed unanimously. No residents spoke during the public hearing.
Project impacts
The total project is estimated at approximately $287.9 million, with about $180.9 million funded by the town through the debt exclusion and roughly $107 million reimbursed through the Massachusetts School Building Authority.
Town Manager Michael Borg announced in January that borrowing for the project had begun, with an initial $70 million bond expected to appear on residents’ tax bills starting in the third quarter of 2027.
Based on current estimates, the average homeowner would see an increase of about $39.89 on that initial bill. Over the life of the 30-year bond, total tax impacts are projected to reach roughly $1,000 annually for the average household.
Construction and oversight
The project will be constructed in phases, requiring coordination around ongoing school operations and nearby residential areas. The board’s discussion reflected some of those complexities, particularly around stormwater systems and construction oversight.
Fitzgerald said the project team is seeking flexibility in documentation requirements to avoid delays.
“What we don’t want to do is tell the contractor to stop work so the whole area can get surveyed and stamped before they can continue,” he said, adding that engineers can provide phased documentation without interrupting progress.
Board members also questioned the level of oversight appropriate for a town-led project.
“As far as this being a town project, we’ve hired a team, and now we’re going to hire another person to oversee our team,” Planning Board Vice Chair Bill Blais said. “There’s just a lot of layers there.”
Town Planner Gil Hilario noted that additional review can be beneficial for large-scale projects, particularly those expected to draw public attention. The board ultimately modified several conditions to balance oversight with efficiency as construction moves forward.
Residents interested in learning more about the project can attend a community forum hosted by the North Attleborough School Building Committee on Tuesday, April 28, at 6 p.m. in the high school auditorium at 1 Wilson W. Whitty Way.
Organizers said the session will include updates on design, timeline and budget, as well as construction logistics and expected impacts to athletic fields, traffic flow, parking and student pick-up and drop-off procedures.