In a standing (and some sitting on the floor) room only crowd that packed the library meeting room for a Zoning Board of Appeals hearing Monday night, most attended to voice their opposition to the proposed baseball facility headed to Northborough.
Earlier this summer, New England Baseball Enterprises drew up a puchase and sale agreement with IM Gold, which owns Indian Meadows golf club, to buy the land. If the sale, which sits at 1.9 million, proceeds, it would become a four-diamond baseball complex and the home of the New England Ruffnecks.
Based on concerns and clear opposition by neighbors, NEBE recently adapted its plans, amending the proposal to address issues of sound, lights and what neighbors say is an overall detrimental activity to the serenity of the quiet neighborhood.
Represented by Attorney Mark Donahue, the NEBE presented its revised plans at the ZBA meeting on Monday.
The purpose of the meeting, and public hearing, was for the ZBA to consider a special permit to change the existing non-comforming use of an outdoor public golf course to an outdoor four-diamond baseball facility. While its business address is in Westborough, a majority of the land sits in Northborough. Essentially, the ZBA is to determine whether the recreational activity of baseball is comparable to to golf.
Eight areas of concern, which were outlined in a letter issued earlier this week, were addressed. Among other adaptations, NEBE reduced its hours of operation, reduced the lighting usage, agreed to adding vegetation for increased buffer zones, and moved a bullpen.
But regardless of the revisions, neighbors and residents are saying baseball is baseball, and it's noisy and bright and will change the scope of the neigborhood.
Three residents led the counterpoint presentation that represented what they say is a majority of the opinion of those who would be affected by the build. More than 200 residents have signed a petition to ask that the fields not be built, which includes 90 percent of abutters and 80 percent of those in the neighborhood, said David Henry, who lives on Indian Meadow Drive.
"We request that it be denied," said Tom Racka, who has lived at 121 Indian Meadow Drive since 1986. "We would argue that it is not the same as going from one non-conforming use to another non-conforming use."
In a powerpoint presentation, Racka, Henry and Kevin O'Connell challenged NEBE's findings, arguing that 16 light towers "twice as high as telephone poles" would create unwanted glare and glow on the neighborhood. The three compared sounds at similar baseball facilities and also a comparison of sounds produced by a golf course as compared to baseball. O'Connell traveled to six fields in MetroWest and measured sound levels at existing active baseball fields.
"There is a noticeable change in acoustics with baseball," said O'Connell. "And noise levels at night are more annoying than the same noises by day."
There are also environmental concerns, added Racka.
"We love baseball," he said. "That is not the issue. We just blieve that this is not the right site for this. It's a loss of land source for the town, and a decrease in the characterization of the neighborhood."
Patrick Maguire of NEBE said the organization has been looking for an appropriate site for the facility for a long time, and has researched areas in and around Boston, and beyond.
"It's hard to find a site for a program like this, "he said. "Ideally, we would move the fields as far from the neighborhoods as we could, but because of the constraints such as the wetlands and flood zones, we are doing the best we can."
NEBE added that roughly 20 acres of the land is buildable for baseball use, and also addressed issues of attendance. Spectators usually, they argue, are parents, siblings and scouts. In fact, "this activity is not well attended. That is not what this program is about."
They predict that no more than 60-120 spectators would be at the field at any given time.
"I don't know anything about acoustics, lighting or decibel levels," said Doris, who lives at one of the abutting properties, "but I do like to be in my backyard. We will abut field numer four and I don't want to have to check a baseball schedule before I eat dinner."
One resident addressed the issue of a pond near the property, adding that the plentiful wildlife that populates the water would most certainly scatter.
An attorney who represented a couple owning an abutting property added, "This is a residential district. Recreational golf with two to four members cascading up the field is significantly different than an active recreational baseball facility. It is a quantum leap that the exception made in 1979 [for the golf course] is similar to this, no matter how many concessions they grant."
NEBE requested a copy of the residents' presentation and asked for an opportunity to respond. The ZBA continued the public hearing, urging residents to offer feedback, and also plans to dicuss the issue with other town boards—particularly the planning board.
The public hearing will continue on Sept. 4 at 7 p.m. at the Northborough Free Library.
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