An appeal of the Newcastle Design Review Board decision to approve a new dormitory at Lincoln Academy questions the appearance and size of the building.
The Aug. 29 appeal by Jonathan Hull, an attorney who lives opposite the building site on Academy Hill Road, also argues the board failed to follow the design review process in the Newcastle Land Use Ordinance.
“In summary, the decision of the Design Review Board in this matter fails to meet any of the requirements of the ordinance,” Hull said in the appeal.
The appeal asks the Newcastle Board of Appeals to remand the matter to the Design Review Board, which could hold another public hearing and reconsider “all the factors” required by the ordinance.
The “immense” scale of the building, along with its architecture and height, are “entirely inconsistent with the neighborhood,” which violates the ordinance, Hull said in the appeal.
Design Review Board Chairman Tor Glendinning, who is also the architect of the project, said he disagrees.
The board members take their appointments “very seriously,” Glendinning said in an email. “Every application I have witnessed action on has been a thorough and fair review … and the Lincoln dorm is no exception.”
As the architect of the project, Glendinning recused himself from the meeting. The remaining members of the board accepted the application 2-1 with Katharina Keoughan and Chris Rice in favor and Sharon Morrill opposed, according to the meeting minutes.
Glendinning also contradicted Hull’s depiction of the project as inconsistent with the neighborhood.
The design of the building “has been meticulously considered inside and out,” Glendinning said. “It reflects thoughtful consideration of the (design review) guidelines.”
“It is sited perfectly and I believe it will prove to be a stunning addition to the Lincoln Academy campus,” he said.
Hull has been the most outspoken critic of the school’s plan to build a 54-student dormitory for its new boarding program.
The attorney has spoken against the plan at a public hearing before the Newcastle Planning Board and written letters to the Planning Board.
He outlined a lengthy list of what he believes to be potential conflicts with town zoning in a 10-page letter to the Planning Board Aug. 22.
The project would have “such a profound negative effect on our property and that of our neighbors that we must raise these issues,” Hull said in the Aug. 22 letter.
The project, depending on lighting, “could forever destroy the rural character and natural state of the track field, Academy Hill and the surrounding area, and change the quality of life for all the neighbors,” Hull said elsewhere in the letter.
Newcastle town attorney Peter Drum said the town “can’t comment on Mr. Hull’s appeal at this time as it is going before the Board of Appeals.”
“It will be up to the Board of Appeals to determine whether the correct procedure was followed,” Drum said.
“Lincoln Academy has been thoughtfully and carefully working through the design process for its new dormitory project,” Lincoln Academy Head of School David Sturdevant said in an email to The Lincoln County News. “In doing so, we have considered many factors, and we expect to adhere to all applicable local, state, and federal ordinances and procedures.”
The dormitory will provide space for the Lincoln Academy boarding program, which recently began its first year.
School officials say the program brings diversity to the school and revenue from the program will help the school maintain programs in a time of declining local enrollment.
Lincoln Academy has 493 local students this year, a decrease of 117 or 19.18 percent in seven years. The school also has 33 international students this year for a total of 526.
Unlike public schools, which can request public funds to meet expenses regardless of enrollment, the private town academy relies primarily on per-student tuition for funding.
The Newcastle Board of Appeals will consider the appeal and a variance request from Lincoln Academy regarding the height of the building Monday, Sept. 23 at 6 p.m. in the community meeting room at the fire station.
The Newcastle Planning Board also needs to approve the school’s application before the contractor can start work. The Planning Board will continue to consider the application Thursday, Sept. 19 at 7 p.m. at the community meeting room.
The school hopes to break ground by October.
(Ed. Note: This story has been updated to include a comment from Lincoln Academy Head of School David Sturdevant, which was omitted from the print version. The Lincoln County News apologizes for the error.)
