Present: ~~Frank Taylor; Chairman, Gerry Casiello; Vice Chairman, Ben Gordon; Secretary, Marshall Sanford, Joe Ventricelli, Amy Atamian, Gary Miyashiro
Absent: ~ John Shaban
Also Present: ~Bob Flanagan, ZEO
Mr. Gordon read the legal notice into the record.
PUBLIC HEARING
Redding Boys and Girls Club, Redding Ridge – Discuss with Commission Limited Duration Permit for Boys and Girls Club Fiddlestick Nationals to be held on Saturday, August 9, 2008 at Joel Barlow High School from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.. Rain Date is Sunday, August 10, 2008
MOTION: ~Mr. Casiello made a motion to enter the public hearing at 7:30 p.m. ~Mr. Sanford seconded the motion and it was carried unanimously.
Joe Macchio, Paul Stauffer and Cori Distler presented the application to the Commission.
Mr. Macchio explained that this event is a mini-version of lacrosse, using smaller sticks, a softer ball and no protective equipment. It is played four on four on a smaller field. Four games can be played simultaneously on a regular lacrosse field. Set up will begin before the proposed 9:00 a.m. start and clean up should be finished by 7:30 p.m. If the event is sold out, as many as up to 2,000 people could be in attendance. At maximum, this number would include 128 teams, siblings, parents and 100 volunteers. At the present time, 7 teams are registered, and both Mr. Macchio and Mr. Stauffer do not anticipate 128 teams registering.
There will be 2 licensed food vendors, one in the upper lot and one in the stadium concession area. There will be no music, but a PA system will be set up for announcements during the event. There are approximately 875 available parking spaces between the top lot, stadium field lot, and Field B. Parking for volunteers has been arranged with St. Patrick’s Church. The registration form stresses a lack of parking and encourages carpooling.
Up to all nine fields would be used if necessary.
There will be 3 police officers on duty for traffic for the first three hours of the event, and 1 officer for the remainder of the day, as well as 3 JBHS security personnel. The event is covered under liability insurance, and orange construction fencing will be put up between the school and neighboring properties to keep stray balls from going onto neighbors properties.
If minimum attendance occurs, the lower campus will be used exclusively.
Suzanne Krivit, who lives on Barlow Drive in front of the high school, is concerned about the number of children on the fields at one time and suggested there be a reasonable limit set.
Mr. Stauffer said that if the event grows and is repeated in future years, another venue will be sought.
Bob Bardani suggested that the event be held somewhere else.
Art Poltrack, Region 9 Board member, pointed out that Mr. Stauffer had presented this to that Board, and they are fully aware of the situation. Mr. Poltrack also pointed out that if 2,000 people should be there, they will be spread out through the day and the event, not all at once.
Lori Masloski noted that the fields are already in bad condition and wanted to know why this was being allowed. She asked if there could be a limited number of people.
Liz Pelzar had concerns about participants walking from the upper filed parking to the lower field events. She asked if buses would be provided for these people. Ms Pelzar also had concern regarding field conditions. Damage to fields is also a concern.
Mr. Stauffer said that busing would be evaluated based on the final number of participants.
Ken Stivers said that the high school should have responsibility to the neighbors as the neighbors have a responsibility to the school.
Gail Von Dwindelo said that school and user groups need to be more aware of the impact on their neighbors of these kinds of activities, and moderation should be shown.
Frederick Engel sent a letter in opposition.
A letter was received from Bill and Kay Oppenheimer, also concerned about traffic and if there were other suitable locations.
MOTION: Made by Mr. Casiello and seconded by Mr. Sanford, the public hearing closed at 8:22 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Val Koniecki, Clerk
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