Board sets hearing, wrestles with zoning language for fields

Talk about it

The date for a special exception hearing for the baseball complex proposed for north of Badlands Road has been set as 6:30 p.m. Feb. 3.

The proposal for the four diamonds, along with various amenities, has been advanced by a group of youth sports enthusiasts headed by Ed Hendricks of New Richmond. The hearing will be right before the regular Hudson Town Board meeting for the month; and neighbors to the complex, just east of Hwy. 12, will be notified.

As far as the order of the steps taken in the approval process — zoning changes vs. special exception hearing — the board could go this route and give the group more chance to do fund-raising, said Jeff Johnson, town chairman. “They can see how much they can do.”

The board first has to tackle the specifics of zoning ordinance language. It wants to keep the current road classifications, but wording needs to be added about the complex being on a federal highway, not just a state or municipal road. The plural term “municipalities” also needs to be sprinkled into the zoning language, they said.

Individually named items, which are in the proposal, and addressed in the zoning amendment could include restrooms, scoreboards, parking lots, storage sheds and signs. Also proposed is an indoor batting cage. Johnson said mention of concessions is not necessary since their presence is expected when dealing with a ball field.

The current sign ordinance would not allow the number of individual advertising signs that are sought to be placed on fences, Johnson said.

Supervisors also said that the signs on fences should not face outward. “We don’t want an Andy in Mayberry thing,” Johnson said, when talking about appearance.

There was discussion on control of the sign content. “Everybody and their mother could advertise,” Supervisor Dave Ostby said.

Supervisors talked about how to address this in the zoning language, and decided not to make more specific mention of fence signage. Rather, they elected to say simply, “Site plan OK is required for all improvements.”

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