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September 10, 2003Couple favors M-72 siteWuerfels not interested in TC siteByRecord-Eagle staff writer TRAVERSE CITY - John and Leslye Wuerfel continue to pitch plans for a minor league baseball stadium in Elmwood Township. The husband and wife team met Tuesday morning with project engineers at Wells Mansfield Inc. in Traverse City to talk about the plan and answer criticisms aimed at their diamond dream. "We see it as more of a park than a commercial facility," John Wuerfel said. "We'd like to take this piece of privately owned property and turn it into something for the public to use." The couple hopes to build a 4,000-seat stadium on 45 acres at the corner of M-72 and Bugai Road. Wuerfel said he's not interested in offers to build the stadium in Traverse City, a location he says could not include a proposed practice facility and little league fields. "I'll go look," he said. "But I really think this is a good spot for it right here." David Schleuter, who lives near the proposed site on Bugai Road, is one of many residents who oppose the plan and increased traffic, light and noise they believe would accompany the park. "And just having control over the events and the type of events," Schleuter added when contacted by phone Tuesday afternoon. But Wuerfel said the entire project, including its location, was designed to lessen those effects on nearby residents. "We really tried to pick a place where we wouldn't bother people," he said. "There's been a lot of rumors about alternative uses but alternative uses will be limited to recreational matters," like community and school baseball games. Although the Wuerfels considered naming the Frontier League team the Cherry Bears, they say the name would instead have a beach theme. The property needs to be rezoned from agricultural open space to resort commercial before township officials can consider any project permit applications. A public hearing on the matter will be held Sept. 23.
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