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Arden Hills Planning Commission Response to Concerns Communication • The baseball field issue is a highly emotional one for a variety of stakeholders. • The District has an ongoing commitment to provide soccer playing areas at MVHS with Ramsey County. • It was believed that we could satisfy any neighborhood complaints after other obstacles were removed. Location: • The field location causes the least disruption of school and summer athletic programs and leaves the most usable space for those activities of any configuration examined. • The location of the new baseball field on the upper sand base soccer fields any where beyond the South east corner would impact the available space to establish three soccer fields. Since the infield aglime area is not a playable surface this area would migrate about half way into one of the soccer fields reducing one of the soccer fields by about half. Locating the baseball field in the South East comer will allow the district to lay out three full soccer fields when the demountable out field fence is removed. • Parking issues. The site is already under what new construction code requires for available parking. A field in a location on the southwest corner of the property would not allow parking located behind the school to be accessed. • A location in the southwest comer would be an attractive nuisance to students. Its close proximity to the building make it easier for students to access during the school day without detection. • A location on the southeast corner of the property, while distant, allows site into the dugouts from the school building. • Physical education classes would remain nearest the building with a location on the southeast corner. Lighting: • The District does not intend to ever light the field. Neighborhood Traffic: • The City of Arden Hills will determine the need for signage on nearby city streets. • The District will commit to locking the gate near the field from 2:30 to 5:30 on game days. • MVHS will communicate to the baseball team, parents and boosters of appropriate ingress and egress to the field. • The District will provide signage at the site to identify appropriate parking and field access. Foul Balls: Storage: • The District will add a hood on the twenty foot backstop to help avoid foul balls. • If foul balls become an issue after construction the District pledges to work with residents and the City of Arden Hills to find appropriate solutions. • The demountable outfield fence will be stored near the home bleachers at the football stadium and should not be observable from nearby residences. • A portable storage pod type container will be utilized at the site nearly year round. It will contain all baseball equipment and will be secured.