Cost, on-street parking, noise and artificial turf among topics discussed

By Paula Pyzik Scott

On Monday, July 27, Bluffton Council conducted a public hearing on the Bluffton Exempted Village Schools (BEVS) request to vacate a portion of Vine St. to allow for the construction of a 1.2 acre athletic practice field. An active and sometimes emotional discussion included council members, school district representatives and residents, many of whom live near Lawn and Vine streets.

School board president Roni Kaufmann said that without council approval of the closure of Vine St. at the alley between Jackson and Lawn, the project hasn’t really begun. BEVS superintendent Greg Denecker said that the district does not have much land that isn’t in the floodplain. He described the project as a multipurpose facility and the land as a potential area for school expansion in the future.

On behalf of the Planning Commission, council member Mitch Kingsley commented that BEVS has addressed traffic impacts, storm water drainage and providing a pedestrian route through the area. The commission made a unanimous recommendation to proceed with the request to close Vine St.

About a dozen residents attended the meeting to ask questions and express concerns about aspects of the project including costs, increased on-street parking demand, noise and health risks associated with artificial turf.

PRACTICE FIELD COSTS
Members of the public noted that the overall cost of the project had not been explained. Purchase of 134 N. Lawn Ave. cost $245K and purchase of 130 N. Lawn Ave cost $215K, according to the Allen County Auditor’s website. Superintendent Denecker said that demolition and removal of two houses on Lawn St. cost a combined $20K. These costs total $480K. Construction costs listed on the Village of Bluffton building permit is $400K.

A resident asked about long term plans for the property. Denecker noted that school enrollment has been steady at 1,200 for 30 years and that the land would likely be used for a practice field for at least 10 years.

Denecker also noted that in Ohio the average annual expenditure per pupil is $16K, while Bluffton spends $12K per pupil per year. 

ON-STREET PARKING
Several residents said they were concerned about increased demand for on-street parking. The plan includes a few new parking spots on the shortened segment of Vine St. next to Bluffton Elementary School. The school side of Lawn Ave. from College Ave. to Elm St. is a no-parking zone to ensure that snow plows can create adequate room for maneuvering school buses.

Superintendent Denecker said that visitor cars could be parked in the St. Mary Catholic Church parking lot.

Police Chief Ryan Burkholder commented that overnight parking permits such as have been implemented in 2025 on Spring St. could be a means of preserving on-street parking for nearby residents.

NOISE
One resident said she was concerned about noise levels that could negatively impact a family member who experiences sound-related seizures. Superintendent Denecker said that band practice is usually one day per week and does not last past 5:00 p.m.; he also said that the district would talk to coaches about yelling.

ARTIFICIAL TURF
One resident expressed concerns about the safety of artificial turf–about injuries and chemicals–especially for early elementary age students. She provided a print copy of research on this topic to School Board President Roni Kaufmann. Village Administrator Jesse Blackburn noted that artificial turf is a commonly used product and is part of the Legacy Park project on Snider Rd.

The public hearing lasted approximately 45 minutes.

FIRST READING OF RELATED LEGISLATION
Following the hearing, council unanimously approved the first reading of legislation permitting the vacation of a portion of Vine St. Second and third readings would need to be passed at upcoming Bluffton council meetings, on August 11 and 25, to enact the legislation.