Agenda - Council - 03/24/1998 - Laserfiche WebLink

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There is approximately 1,100 feet between the nearest residential neighborhood and the proposed facility. In researching a similar use in the City of Andover, which has an 800 foot separation from the nearest residential neighborhood, Staff has been informed that ballfield lighting and noise created by patrons at play are the potential nuisances. These nuisances can be curbed by limiting hours of operation for the outdoor games and ball field lighting. The site plan includes a significant lighting plan for the ballfields. The Planning Commission and City StatThave drafted the proposed conditional use permit to specify the type of lighting to be used on the ballfields per the recommendation of the Anoka County Parks Supervisor. The proposed conditional use permit also proposes that ballfield lighting be shut offby 10:30 p.m. Similar to the conditional use permit issued to Superbowl, the Planning Commission has recommended that the games cease at 10:00 p.m. and the outdoor recreational area be cleared by 10:30 p.m. The Applicant is willing to cease softball and softball lighting by 10:30 p.m. but would like the proposed permit amended to allow for extended volleyball hours on Friday and Saturday nights only: play until 11:00 p.m. and clearing of the courts by 11:30 p.m. The volleyball courts would be lit by stand~d lighting installed on the building and not by the softball field lights. Immediately to the west of the subject property is a corridor that has been preserved in the form of out/ots and is owned by Anoka County. This corridor was preserved as a possible alignment for a future Mississippi River bridge crossing. Comments have been solicited from the County and it appears that the bridge is at least 20 years off in the future. If and when it does happen, most likely additional right-of-way beyond the current preserved corridor will be required for an interchange. That additional right-of-way required will impact two of the ballfields (assuming they still exist if and when the bridge is constructed) and part of the customer parking area. In the event the City determines the ballfields are an appropriate use of the property for the next 20 years, the conditional use permit was drafted to require the Applicant's full cooperation on a bridge crossing, if and when it occurs in this area. Subsequent to. the Planning Commission meeting on March 12, the Applicants met with representatives of various departments at Anoka County and have agreed to give the County a 20 year purchase option on the additional land necessary for the bridge crossing, if it occurs. Staff has taken the liberty of amending the conditional use permit proposed by the Planning Commission to include the requirement for entering into a Purchase option agreement with the Cou~nty. The Police Chief has had conversations with the Anoka County Sheriff's Department and the Blaine Police Department regarding similar uses in Andover, Oak Grove and Blaine (Pov's, SRO and Be Bop Cafe). They indicate to Chief Gustafson that they do not feel they have been required to respond to a number of calls exceeding that which would be considered normal for those types of operations. It was recommended that Ramsey give careful consideration to the terms of the conditional use permit to adequately address lighting, closing times for athletic fields on Sunday evenings, and liquor sales and consumption on the fields, parking lots and bleachers. I I I I I I I I I I