NORTH ADAMS — The new Greylock School will go out to bid next week after receiving unanimous site plan approval at Monday night’s planning board meeting.

The board approved the updated $65 million Greylock School plan following a presentation from Jesse Saylor from TSKP Studio, the school’s designer, and Chelsea Christenson, a civil engineer with Nitsch Engineering.

Voters OKed the new school last year for all North Adams students ages pre-K to second grade after a tight race deciding whether or not to keep the current situation or redo Greylock. Once contractors submit proposals, Saylor estimates construction could begin in January or February.

The project will increase the school's footprint from 55,000 square feet to 73,000 square feet and shift the building north up Phelps Avenue and farther away from the street. Saylor said that the plan was to “bring nature to students through the design of the school and maintain a secure perimeter.”

Saylor said they pulled in the fence from the property line to benefit the neighbors in the surrounding area. The design also moves the project away from residential properties on Barbour Street.

The design is supposed to emulate nature surrounding the school, with the outline of the roof mimicking the mountain facades behind it and windows that will bring in as much natural light as possible. A courtyard will also house the school’s pet turtles.

"The site's unique,” said Saylor. “It's got the massive Mount Greylock to the south, the Taconic range just to the north, with the Appalachian trail running down Phelps Avenue in front of the school."

The exterior will be made from fiber cement planks and terracotta shingles, adding to the natural-toned design, said Saylor. The new roof will be made of a PVC membrane standard in district buildings.

There will be two new playgrounds on site, a multi-use field, and a “cafetorium” with a stage and gym. The school will also add 30 parking spots for a total of 94 and increase the capacity of the drop-off lane to reduce traffic on Phelps Avenue.

The design also includes plans for an Appalachian Trail kiosk, a small structure that would support hikers using the nearby trail. If that does not move forward, it could become a convertible pickleball and basketball court for that area.

Christenson presented the approved stormwater management system and said it was designed "pretty conservatively" and to current state standards. When asked what "conservative" meant, Christenson said the design plans for a 100-year storm.

There were a couple complaints from the board and audience about the new building replacing a current little league field. The field would be moved to Noel Field in the spring, said Saylor.

“I question the rationale for moving a baseball field that has been a part of the Greylock area for so many years," said resident Nancy Bullett. “I'm disappointed that had to be the case.”

Board member Lisa Blackmer said she was also disappointed to lose that field because the current location is more walkable for kids than at Noel Field, although it was past time to raise non-technical concerns about the proposed plan. The project has also already been approved by the School Building Committee and Massachusetts School Building Authority.

In response to those comments, Saylor said that decision to move the school to that new location was "multifaceted."

“The volume of the school is arranged so it doesn’t overwhelm the streetscape,” he said. "Moving it north picks up southern exposure to front entrance, gains views to the south and works in flat site where previously it was split level because you're working with a sloping site."