WESTFIELD – Prior to the Planning Board meeting on Tuesday night, the board posted a notice at the entrance doors inside the City Council Chamber room in City Hall informing the public attending the meeting that there would be no public comment being offered or talked about in regards to the ongoing hearing on the Roots Athletics Center.
A public hearing will take place at a Planning Board meeting on Nov. 1 to further discuss Root Athletics.
An image of a cease and desist letter obtained by The Westfield News that was sent to Sage Engineering and Contracting regarding the Roots athletic facility in Westfield. (WNG File photo)
The City of Westfield Principal Planner, Jay Vinskey, reported to the Planning Board on Sept. 29 in a letter the issues raised from the public participation in a prior Planning Board meeting.
According to Vinskey’s letter to the board, he visited the Roots Athletics Center on the morning of Sept. 24.
Vinskey’s first thing to point out is the fact that Root Athletics did install field lighting. Vinskey states in the letter, “Outdoor lighting has been installed at the fields, despite the fact that testimony and a letter from the applicant (12/12/14) indicated there would be none. The approved site plans do not show field lighting. While I was not there at night, I cannot attest to any light trespass.”
The outdoor lighting on the athletic fields at Root Sports are shown shining directly at a neighboring house in the evening. (Photo from Heidi Leonard)
In result of that, on Oct. 7, the City of Westfield’s Superintendent of Buildings, Carissa Lisee, acknowledge the fact that Root Sports is still using the lights.
As Lisee’s letter was directly towards Roots Athletics President Frank DeMarinis, Lisee ordered that Roots Sports ceases and desists.
“Since you have failed to comply with the original order that was emailed to your company on Thursday September 22, 2016, I am ordering you to immediately cease and desist all use of the outdoor soccer fields until a modified site plan is submitted and approved by the Planning Board.”
Next in Vinskey’s letter was the public’s talk about inadequate parking. Vinskey observed anywhere from 40 to 50 cars parked along Root Road since Root’s parking lot was full.
Vinskey then went on to say, “While on-street parking is not illegal, the Board fully expected the site could accommodate all parking demands off-street.”
As Root Sports is also looking to have more outdoor athletic fields, they are looking to utilize artificial turf. In Vinskey’s report to the board, it stated, “the applicant shall submit to the Board the type of infill material to be used in conjunction with the outdoor artificial fields.”
If rubber or any other type of synthetic material is used, at least one groundwater monitoring well needs to be installed at a location that is acceptable enough to the Water Resources Department near the infiltration basin.
With Vinskey’s site plan basing off of some of the complaints that were made during public participation in a prior Planning Board meeting, a few members of the public spoke on behalf of their concerns after, outside of the meeting.
The outdoor lighting is seen to be reflecting off another neighboring house at night. (Photo from Heidi Leonard)
A few of those living close to the Roots Athletics Center, Jennifer Dallmeyer, Joe Calderella, and Heidi Leonard all talked about the issues they have with the lighting, parking as well as the exact material that will be used for the turf on the artificial athletic fields.
As the lighting on the outdoor fields faces some of the abutting properties, there is no fence that can block the lighting from the residences.
Dallmeyer then recalled last year when she noticed the overflow of parking at Root Athletics, which caused cars to park along Root Rd., just like Vinskey had reported in his letter to the Planning Board.
“Both views were obscured, I couldn’t see anything,” said Dallmeyer.
Leonard recalls that particular incident being the reason for initial cause for concern.
“That’s what brought our attention to everything,” said Leonard.
Leonard went on to mention her concern as to what kind of material will be used for the artificial turf.
Seeing the several violations as issues of concern, the individuals who have voiced their opinion on the matter, feel that their concerns needed to be addressed.
“The violations just kept mounting and mounting,” said Calderella, “We had no choice.”
At the conclusion of the hearing, Vinskey added that during the hearing on Nov.1, the public who has concerns, will be coming with an amendment focused on the issues or violations that concern them.
