During Tuesday’s Planning Advisory Board meeting, the board will consider a request from Great Falls Public Schools to aggregate 22.219 acres of the Great Falls High School campus.

That equates to 91 lots that, if the request is approved, would be aggregated into a single parcel.

GFPS is in the midst of a major construction project at GFH and as part of the project, planning a 62,000 square foot addition connecting the south campus building to the historic school building. The connecting building is known as the HUB. The project is among those included in the $98.8 million bond that passed in late 2016.

[More information about the GFPS bond projects is available here]

Because the proposed building and other associated improvements would cross over existing parcel boundaries, the city directed GFPS to submit a lot aggregation of the campus complex.

[Take a digital tour of the Great Falls High renovation and addition]

The action will include multiple previously vacated alley and street rights-of-way, according to the city staff report, and the aggregation is necessary to go through the amended plat process because state law dictates that “within a platted subdivision filed with the county clerk and recorder, a division, redesign, or rearrangement of lots that results in an increase in the number of lots or that redesigns or rearranges six or more lots must be reviewed and approved by the governing body before an amended plat may be filed with the county clerk and recorder.”

GFPS asks city for portion of Kranz Park to build parking lot

GFPS is holding a groundbreaking for the GFH addition on May 21 at 3:30 p.m. at the GFH auditorium, 1900 2nd Ave. S. Those wanting to attend are asked to RSVP to Rachelle Broughton; 268-6008; rachelle_broughton@gfps.k12.mt.us.

The high school was originally located at 1400 1st Ave. N. until being moved to the current location in the late 1920s, according to the city. The current campus covers more than three city blocks and has been added to the National Register of Historic Places. More than 100 of original platted lots comprise the existing high school site.

 

 

The city-county Historic Preservation Advisory Commission reviewed the proposed addition during their May 9 meeting and the project will also require review by the city’s Design Review Board, according to the city.

The lot aggregation will go before the planning board and the City Commission.

The newly created aggregated parcel will be 22.219 acres and will encompass the campus from 2nd Avenue South to 5th Avenue South, and from 20th Street South to an irregular line running from 18th Street South to 17th Street South.

That will allow existing structures and the proposed addition to comply with setback requirements and not encroach on lot lines.

The proposed plat also identifies new water line easements for utility improvements being reviewed by public works, according to the city. Public Works has requested that all improvements be overlaid on the plat to determine the need for additional easements, according to the city. The finalization of easements has been recommended by city staff as a condition of approval.