CAMDEN — On Nov. 2, the Camden Planning Board will begin its review of the proposed architectural plans for the new Camden-Rockport Middle School, which is to be built on the site of the existing school on Knowlton Street. As well, the town has received a request from the school district to amend current zoning to allow eight more feet to the height limitations so that the new school can be compliant.

Oak Point Associates, the Biddeford-based architectural company that is designing the $26 million project, explained to the Camden code enforcement office that the new building is 35 feet at its tallest point, which is five feet over the Traditional Village District zoning height limitation of 30 feet.

Either the building plan must change to allow for compliance, or town voters must approve an amendment to the height limitation.

It is up to the Planning Board to first consider placing a zoning amendment before voters. Initial discussions will begin Nov. 2 and 16 at Planning Board public hearings, at 5 p.m. in the Washington Street Conference Room.

The proposed language is to increase the maximum building or structure height for the Camden Traditional Village District to 38 feet, but only on lots home public schools existing as of 2017.

The goal is to schedule a special town meeting in December to vote on the amendment. The meeting would also include a zoning housekeeping measure for the town’s floodplain ordinance, which relates to a separate residential construction project.

If the town opposes the height limitation zoning change, then the architects are to lower the rear classroom wing, which would require the addition of stairs in the main corridor.

“These stairs will make the corridor more difficult to monitor, make accessibility more challenging and increase the overall construction cost of the project,” wrote Oak Point, in a memo to the town (see attached PDF for the entire letter). “By increasing the allowable height for a school in this ordinance, the building will best meet the educational needs of the community without impacting the character of Knowlton Street. In fact, the building will be lower than what has existed there for nearly 100 years.”

In the latter reference, Oak Point was talking about the Mary E. Taylor School, which is 41 feet tall, the company said.

“Efforts have been made to limit the impact on the visual landscape on Knowlton Street through the design of roof lines and the exterior façade as well as placement on the site,” the architects wrote. These include: