2013-05-02 Public Hearing
TOWN OF BERLIN, CONNECTICUT
PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION
PUBLIC HEARING
May 2, 2013, 6:00 pm, Berlin Community Center, Room 4
Subject – Pistol Creek
The Berlin Parks and Recreation Commission will hold a public hearing to solicit usage suggestions and proposals
for the Pistol Creek property on Spruce Brook Road. The hearing is open to all interested members of the public.
The commission asks that individuals or designated representatives provide their input/suggestions at this time. If a
specific proposal has been prepared, it should be presented at this time and copies made available to Commission
members.
Minutes of Public Hearing
ATTENDANCE:
Present:
Commissioners
Len Zielinski – Chairman Don Dellaquila Fred Jortner Jr.
Robert Sylvester Steve Hinchliffe
Donna Bovee
Staff
Debbie Dennis - Superintendent of Recreation
Art Volz, Superintendent of Public Grounds
Absent: Commissioners Charles Warner
Jon Zuk – Golf Course Manager
Golf Pro Marc Bayram
There were approximately 22 residents from the Town of Berlin who attended this meeting. Out
of these residents 15 spoke out at the meeting and these were their concerns.
Lorraine Stub, BerlinFrom the Historical Society - Voiced her concerns about the historical
site at Pistol Creek. She wants to see the old restaurant building kept available for all
organizations to use.
Norman Margnelli – Space is being used from people of all ages. Cross Country Skiing uses
during winter months. Please keep what is there.
John Hanson – Spruce Brook Farm – Family has owned neighboring property for many years.
Indicated that there has been an archeological dig at site. It is a gem of piece of property.
Property already gets a lot of use.
Jill Hanson – Spruce Brook Farm - There is a lot of wildlife that will be disrupted, deer crossing
in the area where soccer fields are planned. Traffic would be dangerous.
Paul Griswold, McGee Middle School Cross Country Coach – We use the property for the
McGee Track and Cross Country meets and this would take away from our use. We have a 2.2
mile path we run. McGee has approximately 65 kids on the team and brings in approximately
60-100 additional competitors for each meet. They hold 2-3 meets per week and have 7-8 home
meets each fall. Meets run approximately from 2:45 – 6:00 pm.
John Riley, Berlin Youth Soccer Association – Presented a joint BYSA and Lacrosse proposal
for Pistol Creek for the creation of 5 playing fields. They would start with 2 fields, adding the
rest of the fields on an as needed basis. It would give them the opportunity to do fund raising to
defray construction costs. Each season BYSA has approximately 600 kids, ranging from 5 to 14
years of age on 31 teams. Right now there are only 3 soccer fields available. In the fall, the
outfields of softball and baseball fields are used, in addition to the mini-field at Denehey. This
adds wear to these outfields and can impact their condition for the spring season. Soccer is a
spring and fall sport. A Lacrosse representative was not present but Riley indicated that they use
the the BHS track interior field as well as other fields also used by soccer.
Emmanuel Rigas, resident – He wants to see Pistol Creek remain as is but would like to see the
Town pursue creation of an indoor athletic complex. He would like the see the town make a
mark and go all out with a large athletic complex and to seek out investors so there would be no
cost to the town. He would also like to see the town put in a cultural center as well.
Carl Vernlund, resident – Feels that the Soccer/Lacrosse proposal would increase noise level,
disrupt wild life and increase traffic. He would like to see it kept as is for the beauty of the
property, the open space, and that the families can continue to use as they do now.
Guy Hoffman, resident – Feels we should use property we already have, such as; property
across from BHS, large portion in back of Sage Park, or sand filled front of Sage Park to name a
few.
Verna Vernlund, resident – Agreed with Mr.Rigas regarding a sports complex but to put it on
the Berlin Turnpike somewhere.
Bart Bovee, land surveyor/project designer – Indicated that more fields do not mean we will
need lights because with more fields, games can be spread over more fields and can have. The
cost of constructing each field would be about $200K. Current design would have minimum
impact on paths currently used for foot traffic and that the final design would allow that traffic
across the playing surfaces. He indicated that one field was anticipated as being artificial turf to
increase usage. It would need to be fenced.
Elizabeth Szymanoski, resident – It’s used right now as a peaceful walking center.
Rich Huck, resident – Have the numbers of kids in BYSA increased that much since 25 years
ago that we have to compromise such a gem of a piece of land?
Alan Blankenberg, resident – Wants to keep the walking trials, club house and to bring in a
restaurant. Town Manager Denise McNair, being in attendance, indicated that the bond
documents used to purchase the property precluded using it in a commercial manor.
Meeting adjourned at 7:40 pm
Kim Lanci
Recording Secretary