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Tuesday, April 07, 2009

Hancock Council to hold public hearing concerning Anthony St. Apr. 8

HANCOCK -- The Hancock City Council will hold a public hearing and special meeting at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Apr. 8, 2009, at at City Hall, 399 Quincy St., on the abandonment of Anthony Street between Spruce Street and Emma Street, a distance of 430 feet. The proposed abandonment is based on a petition from Finlandia University, which hopes to build an athletic complex in that neighborhood.

The project is intended to provide a facility for Finlandia to expand its sports programs and still provide utilization by the Hancock Public Schools.

At a public hearing held by the Hancock Planning Commission Mar. 23, commissioners and residents heard a presentation on the $4 million, three-phase proposal. According to the draft minutes of that meeting, the proposed project is to include construction of a soccer/football field with lighting and synthetic surface, two football practice fields, a 1500-seat grandstand with locker room, a nature trail, softball diamond and lighting, an alumni pavilion and new tennis courts and lights.

At the Mar. 23 hearing several residents expressed their support of the project as well as concerns about safety and walkability in the area and the impact of construction activities on events at a nearby church. Stan Kaczmarek, senior estimator for Gundlach Champion, which will be involved in the project, noted construction would occur from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. No weekend work would be scheduled, he said; thus the noise and dust from the work shouldn’t affect church events on weekends.

Chairperson Dan Lorenzetti read a letter from former mayor Barry Givens, 1301 Garden Street, saying he supports the project and the vacation of a portion of Anthony Street to accommodate it. He also cited community access for the new facilities as an important consideration.

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