Schools
On-Site Demonstration Scheduled for $2.5 Million Pleasant Valley Project
Concerned residents have a chance to see and hear effects of the proposed athletic facility improvements, including lighting and sound systems.
Township residents concerned about the impact of the improvements to the athletic fields will have an opportunity Monday night to see and hear the effects of new lighting and the sound system.
The Peters Township School Board has set an on-site demonstration at the school, which will involve designers for the project. Representatives of Horizon Sound and Musco Lighting will demonstrate the sound system at 8 p.m., followed by a lighting demonstration at 8:30 p.m.
The Peters Township Zoning Board has approved the $2.5 million project, provided that certain stipulations were met. The school board has not taken any final action.
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A number of residents from streets near Pleasant Valley to express concerns about the effects of stadium lights and a sound system in their neighborhoods.
John Luckhardt, a resident of Highland Drive, told the board that adding lights, a sound system and a scoreboard will transform a practice field into an event stadium only about 600 yards from the stadium.
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“The residents of my neighborhood aren’t against development," he said. "We’re concerned about the potential for the change in lifestyle in the five neighborhoods that surround it.”
Luckhardt, a former college football coach, who at one time coached Peters Township teams on the Pleasant Valley field said that improvements to the field have been needed for many years.
“However, the (proposed) sound system is something that is very troubling to me and to the neighbors around the field,” he said.
Several other residents spoke of their concerns, including Mary Korsmeyer, another resident of Highland Drive who stated that she was concerned about the stadium lights “shining directly in (her) living room window.”
According to information provided by the school board, lighting at the field is designed with glare-shields to limit spill-over light into the surrounding area and minimal impact on residential property.
The plan also calls for lights to be turned off each evening at 10 p.m. in accordance with township ordinances. The sound system is to be only used for district regulation games, and will not be used for practices and recreation events.
Currently, 10 different sports use the Pleasant Valley field, and it’s projected that additional teams, as well as the PTHS marching band will be able to use the field after the renovations.
Planned improvements for Pleasant Valley are to create a turfed soccer/lacrosse/football field, new restroom facilities, additional parking up to 39 spaces, a basic sound system, basic concession stands, lighting, new bleachers and improved access to the field from the parking lot.
Buildings and Grounds chairperson Lori Cuervo said that no other committee meetings are planned before it makes a recommendation to the entire board to approve the project. She stated at the May meeting that the committee and the board want to comply with all township ordinances and regulations.
“We have been listening to the public, and we want to become a good neighbor,” she said.
In the event of rain, the demonstration of the lighting and sound systems will take place on Tuesday.