In next step, neighbors to be queried on ball-field project

Talk about it

Based in part on the suggestion of an audience member, the Hudson Town Board will ask neighbors for their opinions in the ongoing approval process for a baseball complex north of Badlands Road.

“We’d also like to see what (the fence signage) looks like up by the rod and gun club,” said Chairman Jeff Johnson, addressing a concern that has been recurring, but not overwhelmingly crucial. The town can be more restrictive in its provisions than those stipulated by St. Croix County in its zoning approval process, but not less, he said.

“It’s more appealing to me to see a nice fence with signage then a wall of white,” said Supervisor Dave Ostby. Concern was mentioned about screening with trees “to the point that you can’t see anything else.”

The town can set its own conditions for the project, officially called the St. Croix County Sports Complex, Johnson emphasized.

“This is a park, not just a ball field.” It would be just east of Hwy. 12 and also includes things such as a storage shed and indoor batting facility.

Johnson said at the board meeting that any lingering questions should be raised that night, so answers could be sought before the matter is revisited at the regular March meeting. Even if things such as site plan approval would have made it on to the January agenda of the Planning and Zoning Committee, there still would have been outstanding questions, such as the stipulations from the state Department of Transportation regarding their role and road status.

Organizer Ed Hendricks concurred with Johnson that they can’t begin excavation until frost is out of the ground, but that more of a concern is having the process far enough along that their group can proceed further with fund-raising.

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