The Bullis School received approval from the Planning Board for their plan to add facilities and increase the number of students.
The school plans to expand their enrollment from approximately 600 to 900 students. Planning Board staff took the unusual step of praising the school’s outreach to the community in the process of expanding their operations, noting that many applicants need persuading to discuss their plans with neighbors. “Bullis School didn’t need any persuasion,” said Callum Murray, Potomac team leader for Park and Planning.
Murray noted that some neighbors had initially been concerned about the intrusion of constructing a new building on the property, but that the school has planned to plant trees as mitigation. “These concerns appear to have subsided,” he said.
The plan was approved unanimously (Commission Vice-Chair Wendy Perdue was absent) with little discussion and no dissent “I think it’s a fine plan and I support it,” said Park and Planning Commissioner Meredith Wellington.
The school will appear before a Board of Appeals hearing examiner on May 14. The deadline has passed for residents to register to speak at the hearing.
The plan will come back to the Planning Board for subdivision approval.