Excerpts from the Staff Executive Summary
The intent of the proposal is to accommodate a lighted outdoor athletic field (approximately 100,000 square feet), concession building, parking, a new administration office, amphitheater and a multi-purpose building (approximately 75,000 square feet).
Three neighborhood meetings were held regarding this request. Numerous concerns were raised at these meetings including the following:
• Compatibility with the surrounding neighborhood
• Noise impacts from outdoor athletic events
• Lighting impacts from proposed light poles at the field
• Heights of light poles and proposed buildings
• Views
• Traffic and safety
• Parking availability
The Staff Summary addressed the above concerns
The Town admitted that although “Thematically, the proposed uses ‘fit’ in-between the existing church sanctuary site and the CDO High School facilities…the extent of development, however, is incompatible with the area” and “The use of field lighting, outdoor amplification, and associated traffic will impact adjacent property owners.”
The Staff Report also states that “it is important to note that there will be a significant increase in traffic and congestion in the neighborhood.” A condition of approval has been added “that no parking related to OVCN activities may occur in the adjacent public ROW.”
Despite the noise study demonstrating compliance with Zoning Code standards, Town Staff admitted that “noise will still be impactful on adjacent neighbors as no amplified noise currently exists onsite…Moreover, having amplified noise until 10 pm will be disruptive to neighbors…A condition of approval was that amplified noise may not go past 9 pm on Sunday-Thursday and not past 10 pm on Friday and Saturday.”
Town Staff Recommended Approval - Planning and Zoning Commissioners Disagreed
Despite admitting that the proposed development is not compatible with the neighborhood, the staff recommended approval “Based on legal requirements stemming from both Federal and State law.” However, the majority of Planning and Zoning Commissioners remained concerned about the noise and lighting impacts to adjacent residents and that the proposal was incompatible with the General Plan and the rezoning request was denied.
This rezoning proposal will go before the Town Council at a later date for a final decision.
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