Summary of the Saint Augustine's College presentation on their
proposed 5000 seat stadium on campus at the June North Central CAC
meeting.
MEETING NOTICE
JUNE 28, 2011, 7pm
TARBORO PARK COMMUNITY CENTER
121 N TARBORO RD, RALEIGH 27610
Representatives of St Augustine's College attended the North Central CAC Meeting on June 14, 2011. Mark Newman was accompanied by College
attorney Clyde Holt for the meeting. Mark Newman let the neighborhood know that the new track and football field construction is complete and Phase I is concluded and added that the track has been built to international competition standards. They also presented information on Phase II which is the proposed 5,000 seat stadium. The College has submitted its Special Use Permit application for the 5,000 with the City of Raleigh, as of May 26, 2011 and expects to be heard by City Council at its meeting on July 19, 2011. Mr. Holt has been retained to aid the College with the Special Use Permit process.
The stadium plan proposes the construction of stadium and/or bleacher type seating, the removal of trees to create paved and grass surface parking spaces, 3 driveway entrances on N. State St across from historic Capital Heights, at Tyler and Van Buren, and Penn streets. Additionally, the plans show the construction of a new road and
driveway access below the stadium to Glascock St at Bennett St., producing a four-way intersection. Additional facilities for lighting and a sound system are included in the plan. There are outlines in the plans for new building construction.
The College plans to use these expanded facilities for St Augustine's football games and the College's men's and women's track and field meets, Convocation, Graduation, and other school events. Some events will be televised. Mr Newman suggested the College would make the facility available to other organizations such as Special Olympics and for other events.
In order to proceed, the college must get approval of the Special User Permit application, for the seating from the City Council and must also get approval of the site plan from the City Planning Commission.
In 2004, the College applied for a Special Use Permit for a 5,000 seat stadium and was approved for 2,500 seats after compelling testimony was prepared and delivered by neighbors who expressed their concerns on the negative impact such a large facility would have on the adjacent and surrounding neighbors and neighborhoods. The result was the reduction to 2,500 seats and some restrictive provisions regarding the facility’s use.
The College did not proceed with that effort under the 2004 approved
site plan. The Phase I construction just completed by the College
required significant changes to the approved site plan. Now that the
site plan is changed, the College is no longer approved for the 2,500
seats under the 2004 Special Use Permit. This provides the neighbors a
new opportunity to voice their opinions about the expansion of this
facility, limit its size, and request restrictions regarding the
College's use of this facility.
The City Council hearing is a quasi-judicial function and requires
individuals to have good cause and reason for giving the testimony
they present. The compilation of testimony requires organization and
effort and there is not a lot of time.
A meeting is scheduled for 7 pm, June 28, 2011 at the Tarboro Parks
and Recreation Center to provide citizens with a forum to ask
questions of City Planning staff about the Special Use Permit Approval
and Site Plan Approval processes to aid in testimony preparation. This
is not a meeting to voice opinions about the project - those must be
submitted and supported by your testimony in the hearings. The City
Planning staff was invited to come to assist the members of our
neighborhoods who need a resource knowledgeable in these proceedings.
