About 40 people came to hear and speak on the Cooperstown All Star Village’s proposal for a comprehensive expansion at the Oneonta Town Planning Board meeting Monday, Aug. 17.
Residents asked questions of CASV representatives, with themes of requests for additional noise and light mitigation. Some residents who spoke said that while they had some suggestions for improvement, they valued the economic impact of CASV.
Representatives of the youth baseball tournament camp have stated in application documents that the proposal will entail an investment of $20 million to $30 million. The centerpiece of the proposal is a new stadium-style field with about 1,200 seats, as well as another playing field. Other proposed improvements have included a pedestrian overpass over State Route 23, additional space for teams to stay, a restaurant and more items.
The proposal is an unusually complicated one for the board, spanning the expansion itself, additional parking, lot line adjustments and zoning map alterations. The town has retained professional review for the project.
Monday’s informational meeting would not have a vote, Planning Board member Robert Lishansky said. Filling in for Chairperson Reggie McGuinness, whom he said was injured Monday and unable to attend, Lishansky read a statement from her.
“Thank you to everyone who’s taken the time to come tonight and share your thoughts,” he read aloud from her statement. “I know this project has brought strong feelings, both in support of the opportunities it could bring and in concern about how it may affect our community.”
McGuinness said that “there’s no question” an expanded baseball park could bring economic benefits, and that “we recognize the value that this kind of investment can make.” At the same time, she said, “we have heard from residents who are concerned about how this project may affect their homes, their neighborhoods, and their quality of life.”
She said it was the Planning Board’s job to thoroughly hear out the proposal and to abide by town code and town plans.
“We are here to find common ground wherever possible,” she said.
Lishansky, speaking for himself, added that as stands, “it’s a proposal.”
“The reason for this is to get your input, both for and against,” he said. “Based on that, we will make recommendations to the town board at some point” and that the expansion could go forward “maybe exactly as planned, maybe with other restrictions, or maybe just shut it down completely.”
“That’s yet to be determined,” Lishansky said.
The meeting was ongoing at press time Monday.