A $27.3 million school expansion project is poised to come before voters in November after the Westbrook City Council voted unanimously on the referendum language Monday.

Barring any change during a scheduled second reading on Sept. 12, voters will decide on the project that will expand and renovate Saccarappa Elementary School and add 12 classrooms to Westbrook Middle School.

Members of the community, however, again voiced concerns at the public hearing about the rate of development in Westbrook, and some city officials say they worry voters could reject the needed project.

“I would hate to see anything happen to this project as a result of development concerns,” said Council President Brendan Rielly, calling the project “absolutely vital.”

In the wake of the city’s housing development boom, some residents are still questioning past decisions by the school department to close Prides Corner Elementary School, which has since been sold and the property redeveloped as a condominium project, and to move fifth-graders to the middle school.

New Superintendent Peter Lancia said Monday that the expansion project is “absolutely necessary.” He said seven years ago, the school population was at an all-time low, which spurred the district realignment that included closing Prides Corner. Since then, he said, there has been a steady increase each year of “new Americans and young families.”

The expansion at Saccarappa will add 12 classrooms, as well as a new library, cafeteria and gym. For years at the school, the gym has been used as a cafeteria, but even that small space requires many students to eat lunch in classrooms. This year, there are five portable classrooms among the district’s three elementary schools.

City Councilor Michael Foley said he toured Saccarappa last year with former Superintendent Marc Gousse and “saw the challenges firsthand.”

“I encourage folks to support the expansion,” he said.

The recent development discussions in Westbrook have been highlighted by the Blue Spruce Farm project off Spring Street. Residents have argued that overdevelopment could further perpetuate school overcrowding, especially at Saccarappa.

Recent population studies completed by Portland-based Planning Decisions have said the school district could grow by 331 students by 2025, roughly the size of one of the department’s elementary schools. That study led the School Committee’s school building committee to increase the scope of the project to include 12 new classrooms at the middle school.

The expansion will also alleviate overcrowding at Canal and Congin elementary schools by moving four classrooms from Canal and three from Congin to Saccarappa.

Resident Jessica Corriveau echoed other concerns from residents Monday when she said she doesn’t believe the new numbers used by school officials.

“Was this the same company that did our study 10 years ago?” she said, referring to Planning Decisions. “They weren’t right.”

Planning Decisions provided the department with two studies – one looking at birth trends and the other looking at potential development. School Committee Chairman Jim Violette said Monday that the 331 figure was the middle number.

Linda Hanscom, who has been outspoken during previous meetings on development, told residents, “Don’t be sidetracked. This is directly related to development.”

Hanscom described the new development as “out of control.”

Last week, the developer of Blue Spruce Farm, Risbara Bros., withdrew its plan for Phase 2 of the project, which was slated to bring 307 additional units. Instead, the company will be forwarding a plan for 108 apartment units.

Rocco Risbara, who attended Monday’s meeting, said in an email this week that he doesn’t believe the apartment units will have a significant impact on the schools.

“At this point, we have no children in the school system coming from these apartments, the city doesn’t have to plow or maintain them, or pick up the trash, so it’s all revenue that can go to help pay debt service on the school bond,” he said.

“We are now a community that’s desirable,” said Councilor John O’Hara, adding that Saccarappa has been “deficient” for a long time. The school received a small expansion in the early 1980s, but was not renovated.

Some suggested that with the city’s growth and need for updated facilities, the district should be building an entirely new school. But, school officials and members of the building committee said the needs at Saccarappa are still the most pressing, and that expanding existing schools is more cost effective.

Mayor Colleen Hilton said she’s concerned that misinformation and resentment over the Prides Corner closure could impact the “short window” the department has to get the necessary information out to the public.

School Committee member Veronica Bates, who also co-chaired the school building committee, said a group has formed to help spread the word and support the referendum.

“We could use more members,” she said.

City Administrator Jerre Bryant said he will be obtaining the five-year debt service figures for the school bond, and looking at timing to “spread out the impact” of the large bond. He’ll also be reporting on the net effect on the city’s property tax rate.

Westbrook Police Chief Janine Roberts waved pom-poms and handed out pencils as children arrived Wednesday for the first day of school at Saccarappa Elementary School. The school is the centerpiece of a proposed $27.3 million project that will face voters in November.

Bernice Wellington spoke during a public hearing Monday on the proposed school expansion project in Westbrook, most likely facing voters in November.