|
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
August 21, 2003Ballpark plans proceedPublic hearing set for Sept. 22ByRecord-Eagle staff writer GREILICKVILLE - The Cherry Bears are dead, but plans to bring minor league baseball to Elmwood Township are alive and well. The husband and wife team who want to build a 4,000-seat minor league stadium will proceed despite public opposition to the plan. "I'm a little short of breath because we were so caught off guard," said Leslye Wuerfel after Elmwood residents criticized the plan at a planning commission meeting this week. "It was kind of shocking." Wuerfel and her husband John asked the planning commission to consider rezoning 45 acres at the corner of M-72 and Bugai Road from agricultural open space to resort commercial. The property must be rezoned before the board can consider permit applications. David Schleuter, who lives near the site on Bugai Road, said he's not sure the rural location serves the stadium or area residents. "I don't want to sound corny," he added, "but this is no field of dreams." Schleuter said he doubts nearby intersections like M-72 and Bugai Road, as well as M-72 and M-22, could handle the traffic. Other issues include a lack of infrastructure at the site, light pollution and noise. "We're out in the middle of the country," he said. "Ball game crowds cheering and a public address system is going to be heard for miles." The Wuerfels have canned their much-panned Cherry Bears team nickname, but Wuerfel said she and her husband spent a lot of time searching for the perfect location. "We considered spots all over the place and we wanted a place that would be accessible," she said. "I really wish they would seriously consider what we're trying to do here," she added. "We think that if it was up and running, no one would think it was bad after the first month." The planning commission will hold a public hearing on the stadium proposal Sept. 22. Wuerfel said she and her husband would present their plans and studies on how they plan to minimize light and noise pollution.
|
|
