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| Robert Kirn | 1/31/2014 10:52:41 PM |
| I am very much in favor of developing the South Anchorage High School athletic fields, particularly the football stadium. I live approximately 150 yards from the turf field, and frankly, I am excited for South to host home varsity football games 4-5 times a year. I believe it will add to the sense of community that we have near the school. I also believe this project will add to the value of my home. Having lived in my home from the day South opened its doors, I believe the school has always been a good neighbor. The new baseball stadium is the finest high school field in the state, for which all of us can be proud. It is well maintained and kept extremely clean, despite hosting numerous games each summer. We enjoy walking over to watch the youth play ball. Having a nice football field will be another jewel our community can be proud of. It will be a fantastic place for football, soccer, track and other athletes to play. The money to develop this facility has already been appropriated. We are a democracy. Please do not let the vocal minority overcome the voice of the majority. No project of value would ever move forward if we had to get 100% buy-in from everybody. | |
| Audrey Kirn | 1/31/2014 10:36:50 PM |
| I am a neighbor living directly to the south of South High School, and I find it very frustrating that one individual presents himself as if he represents all of us. Our neighborhood, the street I live on, and the four cul-de-sacs that ajoin it are not part of his neighborhood homeowners association. We are a very close and friendly street and I'm not aware of any of my neighbors being against nor am I opposed to the South High athletic complex in any way. We represent a fairly large contingency of the group in this area. I also work as a real estate licensee in South Anchorage, showing homes frequently on Eastwind and nearby streets to prospective buyers, all of which were looking to live close to South High, and in particular close to the sports and school facilities available. In my experience, the homes are very desirable in that area because of the school, and only recently have they begun to become more difficult to show as the area is beginning to get a reputation for having angry neighbors. The field itself has not been the problem. While it is unlikely that I myself would ever have a child play on that field since my youngest is almost out of the house, I think it is a shame that the good of many could be held up by the unreasonable demands of a few. I have taken time to go to other schools to sit and watch in the evening. What I found was the surrounding communities using the fields in very productive, youth developing and family friendly ways. I wonder if those who are opposed have taken time to check the fields out. It seems more like they are just reacting to rumors, suspicions, and prejudice. Please approve the continued feild development. | |
| Kathi Gallagher | 1/31/2014 2:27:01 PM |
| I am writing in complete support of the field improvements at South High School. I am a resident of Turnagain View Estates and a member of TVEHA. My home backs right up to the football field. TVEHA Board does not represent the masses as they repeatedly state. There are a good portion of homeowners who do support the fields. An exact number cannot be given because the question "Do you support or oppose the South High field improvements?" has never been voted on by TVEHA members. Despite asking our Board President to take an actual vote of all 164 homes, a vote has not happened to date. TVEHA Board does NOT represent the masses. They represent their own personal agendas. Please approve the field improvements at South. | |
| Lisa West | 1/31/2014 11:59:08 AM |
| The field improvements at South Anchorage High School will benefit our youth for the unforeseeable future. The improvements will also bring a sense of community to the area. Anchorage is a dynamic city, and these improvements will play a part in moving Anchorage forward. Let's continue this positive move forward not only for our youth, but for our Anchorage community as well. | |
| Karolyn Moore | 1/31/2014 9:49:15 AM |
| I am a parent with kids at South High. I want the improvements completed at our football field. Other schools have the same thing we are asking for. Our kids should have the same opportunities to play games on our own turf. There are NOT that many home games in a season. It is good for our community, good for our school, and good for our kids. | |
| Joe Imlach | 1/31/2014 7:21:44 AM |
| Dear Planning and Zoning Commission, I am writing to express my support for the planned improvements at SAHS. I moved to South Anchorage from East Anchorage eight years ago, and paid a premium for our house, specifically because of what I believed to be the improved educational and recreational options for my children. My children are mostly grown now, but I believe that perception that field improvements and a stadium will hurt property values in this area are, for the vast majority of residents, completely wrong. I think turning SAHS into the only high school in South-Central Alaska without the ability to host home games would do more to hurt overall property values. From my property I can go into my backyard on many nights and hear traffic noise from the highway and gunfire from the Rabbit Creek Rifle Range. Would it seem reasonable for me to gather my neighbors and attempt to close, relocate, or modify either of these infrastructure improvements? I don’t believe so. Would it be nice if I did not hear them? Yes, but I believe the social costs of not having these would greatly outweigh the benefits. I realize that these are existing, rather than planned improvements and a direct comparison is not possible, but I hope that in the future the SAHS improvements are also existing. In the growth of every community there are always transient disruptions and changes required to build the value and strength of the overall community. Please support these improvements for our children and for South Anchorage. | |
| Vicki Curtis | 1/30/2014 10:09:01 PM |
| Offering South Football the opportunity afforded to all Anchorage School District High Schools will be "paying it forward" for many years to come as positive, healthy activities such as track and football will keep youth engaged and active members of society. The football field is a much needed investment in our youth! | |
| Kathleen Jarrell | 1/30/2014 9:06:19 PM |
| I DO support these field improvements at South. | |
| Gloria Hanrahan | 1/15/2014 7:31:06 PM |
| I would like to see the Muni hold ASD accountable for the promise to only have practice fields at South. Ms Johnson-Struempler does not have the authority to promise homeowners on the amount of games or disruption which would occur if the South Stadium were built. The use of fields and school resources will be a source of income for ASD, with ASD Rentals determining the frequency of use they will really receive. Rentals took away the use of the Wendler/Lake Otis ice rink by the Wendler PTSA and the Muni, even though our principal had seen the scheduled community use months prior. This rink was built with Legislative funds, but once built belongs to ASD/State of Alaska and Mr. Preston did not want the revenue generated by the Wendler facility to decrease. If built, South could very well see that stadium in continual use, since it would be a ongoing source of income for the district. ASD is once again in budget crunch mode, and letting a facility sit empty when ASD could make money would eventually pit the affected neighbors against many in town. I lived directly behind a football field and the noise was extensive, the trash blowing around unending, and no one could sleep or use the back part of the house whenever the field was in use due to the lights and noise. I would not purchase a home now with those same circumstances. | |
| Paige Akers | 1/8/2014 3:40:44 PM |
| I support the completion of the SAHS improvments. For the TVEHA to make it sound like some kind of ROCK BAND venue is just not the case. My family has been to many AFS football events and never are the stands filled to capacity at any game. We are talking about a few home football games on a weekend, over by 10:00pm. Parking is always a problem (any and every where in Anchorage)that does not mean cars are going to be camped out tailgating in the TVEHA front yards. There are a few homeowners that may or may not have real issues here (a few) many in the same homeowners and many that back the same property support this, but for the TVEHA to blast the opposition and the NOT IN MY BACK YARD attitude is crazy. We live in the largest city in the state (GROWTH HAPPENS). IT is time for the P/Z to put an end to this. The TVEHA is right about one thing, the improvements will definently have a HUGE impact on all hillside subdivisions, a postive one! All hillside subdivions not just one! | |
| Brian Kile | 1/3/2014 5:52:57 PM |
| I support the completion of the SAHS facilities, including the football stadium. I ask the commissioners to do the right thing and approve. | |
| Craig Monty | 1/3/2014 4:39:16 PM |
| Of course students, teachers, parents, administrators and sports boosters want to see a fully completed stadium at South High. As many have pointed out in their impassioned postings here “other schools have one we should have one as well. We deserve it! Emotions, desires, wants and School Pride aside, my question to those advocating for this facility is, “why are your WANTS more important than the RIGHTS of individual property owners of the surrounding neighborhoods” ? Many of those advocating for this facility are woefully misinformed with regard to the actual inception and building of South Anchorage High School. When ASD found the Parcel of Land that South is built on and wanted to avail them selves of it they did so with the knowledge that the parcel was considered to small to facilitate a High School and all that goes with one. So concessions and compromises were negotiated via the Public Process. ASD, the already established surrounding neighborhoods and the large lot property owners to the east worked together to make it happen. ASD’s compromise, in order to gain support for their desired result of a High School for South Anchorage at this location, was “NO GAME FACILITIES ON THE SURROUNDING FIELDS AND NO SWIMMING POOL”. ASD was very aware that there was no room for these amenities so they promised verbally and in writing on Public Documents being distributed in the Public Process to the parties involved that the fields surrounding the School would be used for PRACTICE ONLY and that there would be NO POOL at South. In the ensuing 9 years it has become painfully obvious the homeowners got the short end of the deal. From flooding of their homes due to improper watershed from School property, to traffic issues in the surrounding residential areas that have required some drastic measures to mitigate, such as fire barriers blocking entrance to many of the neighborhood streets from Elmore Road. To the school Public Address system blasting announcements at homes inappropriately for years before being silenced by a simple flip of a switch. To the complete lack of attention given to a woefully inadequate vegetative buffer that was a requirement by Planning and Zoning for approval of the School’s site selection at the onset. If ASD had bothered to maintain this buffer instead of allowing it to be almost completely devastated by actions of both nature and man it would have given these homeowners some relief in both noise reduction and visual barriers over these past 9 years. But ASD chose to ignore the complaints, the plea’s and the reasonable requests made by their neighbors over these ensuing years, now to their own detriment. So what has changed in 9 years with regard to the South High location that would enable the build out of the desired facility? The answer is ABOSULTELY NOTHING! The only thing that has changed is that a group of individuals with a “Special Interest” went to Juneau and lobbied for funding for their pet projects. Projects which at the time were not even on the horizon of ASD or the School Board for that matter. Still to this day there is no official mandate from Anchorage School District requiring football Stadiums at all of the High Schools. Yet these special interest groups soldier on. In the past 4years the residents of the surrounding neighborhoods objecting to the added facilities at South have made many attempts to come to a compromise with ASD regarding the wanted additions. ASD has refused to offer any concession to these affected property owners in order to mitigate the acknowledged negative impacts these improved facilities will have on their property and lives. So here is my suggestion to all of you who are in support of the Football Stadium, why don’t you collectively work with these homeowners to require ASD address their very legitimate concerns and come up with some solid concessions for these affected property owners in order to meet a compromise that achieves your goal and is something they can live with. Instead all I see from the “PRO” football side is ridicule and vitriol of residents who have real financial and personal property concerns over this project. With the constant mantra of our kids deserve it, our kids need it, our kids want it! The total lack of empathy and compassion by these groups for the surrounding neighbor’s valid and warranted concerns is absolutely shocking. Maybe it is time that all of the adults take a step back and simply tell your Kids NO! Explain that ASD made concession in order to get South High School built for them. Tell them that they have a FIRST CLASS HIGH SCHOOL close to where they live because those compromises were made by many of their School’s neighbors and that those compromises should be HONORED by those who follow in the years to come. Tell these kids that they may deserve it, they may want it, but it just is not feasible at your Schools Location. That would be Honest and Honorable thing to do “ for the Kids”. | |
| Rhonda Gerharz | 1/3/2014 4:11:55 PM |
| I fully and completely support the field improvements at South High School. I understand and empathize with the good neighbors that a handshake agreement may have been made several years ago, and that some neighbors expected that agreement to last forever. I expected my first marriage, by virtue of mutual agreement, to last forever too. Times change, people change, and community needs change. I believe they change for the better. If an old agreement is no longer the best solution for all concerned, then it is time to change the agreement. The handful of good South High neighbors opposing the improvements are not the only people affected by this decision, and they are definitely not in the majority. Many other good neighbors, along with the South High student body and surrounding South Anchorage community, see the improvements as positive change. The negative ramifications for the folks in opposition are temporary and few in the big picture. The sun rises and sets for everyone, not just for a select few. Temporary and intermittent inconvenience to South's good neighbors can and will be mitigated. It is the right thing to do, for the greater good of our youth and for the community, which are the best reasons of all to permit change. It is also important to note that it is not just the South Anchorage community changing and evolving with field improvements. This is a district-wide growth occurring at all 7 of the other ASD high schools. Field improvements are a minimal and very positive change occurring all over the Anchorage bowl, becuase this is what the majority of Anchorage families want. The Anchorage Community at large has spoken. Please listen and approve the South High field improvements. | |
| Molly Lerma | 1/3/2014 9:50:11 AM |
| The kids deserve it – no doubt. Sports and arts in school are paramount and arguably more impactful to a student’s character, outlook, and growth than core academics alone. The real ‘Home Team’ experience is undeniably iconic – it’s the thing of movies and legends. And bleachers… oh don’t get me started on the magic of bleachers. In my youth I have looked out into the stands for support and encouragement when we weren’t quite at the top of our game, I have sat, and stood, and stomped and waved and felt personally connected to the outcome of a winning game. And much to my parent’s dismay, I’ve even spent a bit of time underneath them. I don’t think the debate should center around whether or not this is a worthwhile endeavor – of course it is. The problem stems from – an agreement being made. People bought their homes in good faith knowing that there were zoning limitations in place to keep the customary (and aforementioned beneficial) trappings of a typical high school out of their backyard. Good, bad, or indifferent – promises were made. Whether it was the financial pull of a lucrative new housing development or the short-sighted actions of a well-intentioned zoning commission… I certainly don’t know. I can’t help but wonder where all these passionate long-time community members were when the original negotiations were taking place. I just know all the ‘do it for the kids’ comments and personal accounts of how this impacts individual families… while well-intentioned… are missing the mark. This will impact my family too. It’s a pain to drive out of our way, and I share many of the same concerns. The message I want my family to take away from this is – get involved early and often. Don’t let poor planning go unchecked and when you make a promise you need to stick to it. | |
| Shon Robinson | 1/3/2014 8:08:42 AM |
| I support a SAHS stadium. I have two students currently at SAHS who play football (tackle and flag) as well as soccer. The fact that SAHS does not have the ability to have home varsity games is not how it should be. A home game should not require 20+ minutes of travel. The development of the stadium to allow home games at the varsity level is an appropriate next step. The students at SAHS already have to travel for many of their extra curricular activities including swimming. Currently even for JV and C team games there is not seating. People stand at the top of a grass hill. The few (two?) rows of seats are at ground level and you can't over the players on the sideline to see the field from that level. I encourage the Zoning committee to approve the physical improvements to the South Anchorage high school fields. | |
| Gretchen Kenney | 1/2/2014 8:24:38 PM |
| I fully support a proper venue for football and soccer at South High School. Proper seating for spectators could only improve the community support and attendance for students. Nothing beats a school coming together with spirit at home games for football, flag football and soccer! Support SAHS. | |
| Dan Toomey | 1/2/2014 5:36:25 PM |
| I strongly support the completion of the SAHS facilities, especially the football stadium and I urge the commissioners to approve. | |
| Charlene Stanton | 11/15/2013 7:45:10 PM |
| The powers that be need to show some sensible leadership here. Of course, the students want what everyone else has (or doesn't). South already has a baseball field that is beyond what it should be. You are trying to cram everything you can get funds for in an area that legally is short on required acreage for a high school. Just say no to what the legislature has allotted for the sports facilities -- it is the smart thing to do! You are letting counselors, teachers aids, special ed teachers go -- our teachers need help, the students need help -- your primary job is their education -- yes, sports activities are important but you must agree that for the immediate future there is no shortage of football & baseball fields. | |
| Connie Stewart | 11/12/2013 7:36:11 AM |
| Just got back from State Swim Meet in Juneau! Anchorage needs new Pool! Will South High School ever get a pool? Ketchikan, Juneau & Kodiak all have new pools w/in last 5 years! One can always dream! | |
| Len Seymour | 11/11/2013 7:52:32 PM |
| I strongly support a full stadium facility for South High. Regarding the concern of the light pollution from the stadium impacting the nearby subdivision, the lights would only come into play for a small number of days. The lights would not be used during the spring or summer events. The lights would only be used for approximately 3 to 4 boys football games and 3 to 4 girls flag football games (this assumes most of these home games are at night; while current schedule has some of them played during daylight hours). Regarding the noise concerns, many games are already played there, so there would only be a small increase in noise on a limited number of days (probably the 6 to 8 days noted above). If things were never intended to evolve and change, then the rezoning of the original buffer zone for the subdivision in question should not have been allowed to be changed to a much smaller buffer than was originally in place. I have had one child graduate from South, and another is a Junior there now. South students should have similar feelings of 'playing at home' that other students get to experience. The small number of days in question is not such a large inconvenience as to prohibit students from enjoying those experiences. Thanks for you time and consideration of this matter. | |
| Anastasia Brown | 11/11/2013 4:31:44 PM |
| I am a resident of the South Anchorage High area and my neighborhood is one of the buffering residential neighborhoods. I fully support all efforts to bring a home stadium to South High. I am a mother to six boys, all of whom play sports. We would love nothing more than to have a stadium to call our home field. The arguments that the field will bring "significant traffic and noise impacts" are unfounded. At most, South would host four home varsity football games per year. FOUR. I hardly believe four home games would bring "significant traffic and noise" so bothersome as to warrant not moving forward with this project. The advantages to holding those four home games far outweigh the minimal, if any, noise and bright light complaints alleged an extremely small minority within Turnagain View Estates. The minority opposed to the development allege, "The football stadium project proposed by ASD will indisputably have a permanent negative impact substantially greater than anticipated from permitted development in the surrounding area. South High is embedded in a residential area." What high school is not embedded in a residential area? Dimond, West, East, Bartlett, Service, eagle River, and Chugiak High are all embedded within residential communities. Aren't schools developed to support the families and community which surrounds them? Dimond and Chugiak High both have home stadiums and a history rich with a sense of pride and community. When my children are grown and look back they will not have the same warm memories of playing at Anchorage Football Stadium. There's just something uniquely special about having your own home stadium, where homecoming is held and where you have the "home field" advantage from time to time. Those memories are priceless. I believe that the benefits of South High having a home stadium far outweigh any negative impact the facility may impose on surrounding residential areas. I implore you to vote in support of proceeding with stadium development. | |
| Mirta Olert | 11/11/2013 2:43:29 PM |
| I support the creation of an stadium at South Anchorage High school. Our athletes deserve to play their HOME games at home. We have the space and the venue will not only serve well our athletes but the community as well. Every school has its pride, and we need to show ours as well. Please give us that opportunity. The Stadium will be a community venue, so this is a win win project. As a mother of three students at South High, I know how important it would be for the students and community. My children do not play in the teams, but they play in the band, and whenever we have a home game, it will mean a lot to actually play at the home school. | |
| Raymond Moore | 11/11/2013 1:41:56 PM |
| I support any and all improvements to SAHS feild. I would ask the planning and zoning to do what is right and complete the improvements once a for all. Thank you. | |
| Richard Melms | 11/11/2013 11:58:33 AM |
| Expert testimony you have received in the past indicates that there are no adequate measures ASD can take to mitigate the sound and light pollution that will result from their playing field "upgrades". Furthermore, ASD's original application to build SAHS stated that the fields would be "practice fields for use by the SAHS students". What they are proposing goes well beyond the original stated purpose. All of the above will affect the surrounding neighborhoods. Contrary to some folks opinion the neighborhoods were here first. We approved the original plan based on the fields being used for practice only - not as they are now proposing. I encourage you to revisit past paperwork and testimony regarding this issue. Upgrading the Anchorage Football Stadium and other public facilities would be a better use of public funds. I am not in favor of this proposal. Thank you. | |
| Mark Johnson | 11/11/2013 8:17:05 AM |
| Committee Members, Please consider this letter in support of the planned improvements to the South High School Fields. These improvements will create an even stronger school spirit and by allowing home football, track & field and soccer games will get more kids involved in sports. For many students high school sports are the only chance that they get to learn very valuable life lessons. Competitive HS sports are like life....challenging, rewarding, and many times surround the ability to work with team mates ( coworkers) and coaches (bosses). Having a home field to engage and to host home games would help to build the school's legacy. I honestly don't see a negative impact to anyone with these planned improvements. On behalf of our family which lives close to this facility we are in support of the planned improvements. Thank you for your consideration! Sincerely, Mark and Jamie Johnson | |
| Becky Berger | 11/11/2013 8:10:09 AM |
| One of the BEST schools in the STATE with some is the BEST athletes..and NO football/soccer stadium?!? Unheard of. I have brought relatives and friends to watch games at our daughter's new school only to he embarrassed by their comments: "We have to sit on the grass!? Why don't they have proper bleachers? No lights?! And this is a NEW school? Look at this awesome feild..why didn't they finish it!?" We are totally for the development of a football stadium and the majority vote should rule out the small number of selfish homeowners that can't see beyond their own back yards and think of community and our young people's needs. If you don't like your home behind a school perhaps sell it and pass along to those families who would really value from it!! We would LOVE to see lights up around the perimeter..no one is skating, sledding or walking in the winter because the school is dark and unsafe. Come on, what are we waiting for and wasting time and money on this? Seems there is only one solution...build a school and build it right the first time! Go Wolverines! | |
| Karen Zietlow | 11/11/2013 7:52:07 AM |
| I fully support a stadium at South High. One with bleachers and what other schools have. If the money was put into building a turf field, it seems that now is the time to finish the stadium part before it gets more expensive. I too have students who use the fields extensively. It is very difficult for some parents to transport their kids to other fields during the day for a game at another school. I understand that happens for away games, but home games? Thanks for your time. | |
| Tricia Ashcraft | 11/9/2013 7:51:07 PM |
| We are a football family!!! It's how we spend our time together. The time each weekend when EVERYONE'S enjoying family time. This year was our first year watching our son (a freshman) play HS ball. Up til now it was pop warner. At first he didn't want to play for South, after camps and 2 weeks of weight training, he was all about it. It didn't matter that he had to wake up @ 7:00 each morning during his summer break to go-he wanted to be there. The X-box sat dusty and unused (my prayers had been answered), when school started he was eager to finish homework, eat and get to practice. He went to school, practice and on the weekends he worked (village inn). This last season was the hardest I've seen that kid work, I've never been more proud. He told me last week he either wants to wrestle, or play basketball. I asked him why, and he told me because it'll make him better at football. So far, he's maintained a 4.0 average-he's always been a smart kid, this is the first time he's done it effortlessly, on his own!!! All these boys work so hard, they pay attention to their academics and stay out of trouble. They're not sitting on the couch or lazing away any free time. They're learning respect, the value of teamwork and working hard-something seriously lacking in the youth of today!!!! Let's reward them with the proposed improvements!!!! My understanding is that a resident is concerned with traffic; my response is this: the football season in AK is a short one. We're only talking about home games, which means even fewer games played AT the South field, disrupting your route home. By my calculations, looking at this year's schedule, it's less than 10...regardless. Games WILL be played at the school with or without the improvements. Can we please reward these kids?!?! They've held themselves to a higher standard than so many of their peers and they deserve some payback!!! | |
| Shon Robinson | 11/8/2013 12:47:01 PM |
| Shon Robinson I support a SAHS stadium. I have two students currently at SAHS who play football (tackle and flag) as well as soccer. The fact that SAHS does not have the ability to have home varsity games is not how it should be. A home game should not require 20+ minutes of travel. The development of the stadium to allow home games at the varsity level as an appropriate next step. The students at SAHS already have to travel for many of their extra curricular activities including swimming. Currently even for JV and C team games there is not seating. People stand at the top of a grass hill. The few (two?) rows of seats are at ground level and you can't see the field from that level. I encourage the Zoning committee to approve the physical improvements to the South Anchorage high school fields. | |
| Kalli Albright | 11/8/2013 10:21:20 AM |
| I'm in full support of the stadium that should be built at South. We had our first flag football game on the turf this year, but we couldn't play late because there were no lights and I'm sure we would have had a bigger crowd if there were stadium seats. | |
| Donna Purcella | 11/8/2013 9:04:58 AM |
| I am against this planning request. I am concerned about noise and additional foot traffic through the subdivision as I live immediately to the west of the proposed zoning change. | |
| Tamara Starkel | 11/7/2013 8:13:29 PM |
| Our family supports the full completion of the SAHS field improvements! | |
| Todd Parrish | 11/7/2013 5:02:55 PM |
| Our family has lived in the neighborhood just south of South Anchorage High for 11 years. We built our home in order to be close to the planned high school and it's benefits. My boys have, and will continue, to benefit from athletic activities at South Anchorage high school. They have utilized the fields as members of Boys and Girls club, C-team, JV and Varsity football teams. Our family attends many outdoor activities at the South fields, football, flag-football, soccer and baseball, and physical improvements would make the experience better. We are in total support of the installation of stadium upgrades at the neighboring high school. I encourage the Zoning committee to approve the physical improvements to the South Anchorage high school fields. | |
| Max Durtschi | 11/7/2013 10:07:27 AM |
| I went and watched all of the flag football games this year to support the team and I noticed many more people attended the games when they were on the south field. I support the completion of the stadium to support our football teams. | |
| Alaina Prince | 11/7/2013 10:05:17 AM |
| As a student at South, I fully support the construction of any and all sports infrastructure, including a Football Stadium, at South Anchorage High School. | |
| Lisamarie Russell | 11/7/2013 7:40:47 AM |
| My family was there in the begining. I am a proud parent of 2 South graduates. The first years of South Field sports these boys & girls had to practice everywhere but South. These few people that are complaining the most new when they moved to the neighborhood that there was going to be a school in there back yard. Football season is very short! We have worked long and hard for this turf and every other school is getting turf except for South Anchorage, even middle schools are getting turf. So are you really going to let a hand ful of people make this choice NO! it is in the best intrest of the students. Childhood only comes once in a life time and we can not get it back. Please let these future South Graduages have some great high school memories on their home turf. I put a lot of time into this school and I want it for my graduates | |
| Cydney Maisey | 11/7/2013 4:40:13 AM |
| Our family was SO EXCITED when the stadium at South Anchorage was completed so we could go watch our two boys play football near our home! Then the season rolls around, and we find out our home games would be at AFS! What a bummer!! We LOVE the campus of SAHS-it's close & feels like home!! I remember SO WELL when I was in high school in Utah & attending the high school football games in the nearby neighborhood . . . What a BLAST OF FUN-CHEERING for our team, almost in our backyard!! Then getting married, having a family, moving to Alaska, raising our kids in sports-& having to go clear downtown to watch the high school football games?!! I TOTALLY feel that we SHOULD have our home games played at OUR high school!!! We should work AND play together to have a friendly, HAPPY community where we can develop memories . . . ESPECIALLY AT THE FOOTBALL GAMES PLAYED AT OUR children's South Anchorage High School!!!!! | |
| Heidi Ungaro | 11/7/2013 12:09:16 AM |
| As the parent of two kids that attend South Anchorage High School and a homeowner within walking distance from the school I respectfully request that you allow the completion of the football field as requested by those in favor of developing our field. Both my kids will be seniors next year and both play football. My daughter plays flag football and this year we made it to the championship game for the first time ever in the schools existence. The championship game was against Dimond at Dimond Alumni Field .... no home field advantage for us and no chance ever until we have a field of our very own! Alaska is one of only two states that has flag football for girls, the point being this field isn't just for the boys but impacts the girls as well. I loved every minute of watching my 5'1" daughter running down that field and how happy she was when she made touchdowns or when she would rip a flag off the back of an opponent ....it was exhilarating!!! Please allow other parents, siblings,and players to experience those once in lifetime moments that pass much to quickly. In order to so they must have field ....their own field!!! Thank you in advance;) | |
| Shanlynne Moore | 11/6/2013 9:45:34 PM |
| My Husband and I are lifelong Alaskans who have lived on the South hillside for 29yrs (my husband), and 27yrs (myself) We have seen a tremendous amount of growth THROUGHOUT Anchorage and both of us along with our 3 boys (19,15 and 11) strongly support the football stadium being built at South Anchorage High School!! I am hearing most of the complaints from the people that are against it (who might be in Anchorage because of the growth?) being noise pollution? I don't know how they can consider hearing the community cheering on our young athletes pollution?? My family lives right off of the highway (very noisy!) & we have dogs barking in our neighborhood and in the summertime we hear kids playing in the streets all day & into the night because it is the "Land of The Midnight Sun".... I don't complain because we all learn to adapt to our environment! We wanted to reside and raise our children here because South Anchorage is a wonderful place and we love our community & our neighborhood schools!! We actually put an offer on one of the homes that backs up to the field as we love the neighborhood and proximity to the school, but we were outbid by someone who obviously felt the same! Living anywhere there are pros and cons, and it would be beneficial to our community if these few homeowners who are opposed to supporting this positive growth maybe try to find some pros instead of just the cons to their own property! We live in Alaskas largest city, and as the city grows and changes so must the neighborhoods....we are not the valley where you can easily own several acres of property to decide how peaceful and quiet your surroundings are at all times! My boys would love to be able to ride their bikes to the school to watch the Football games, instead of having to wait for me to take them across town! as they are tremendously enjoying doing that now with the Baseball games at South!!! Thank you for seeing the POSITIVES in this improvement to our school!!! | |
| Wesley Chien | 11/6/2013 8:41:57 PM |
| I wholeheartedly support the field improvements at South Anchorage High School. At a time when the ASD is placing an increased emphasis on increasing attendance, and decreasing drop-out rates, athletics are a major incentive for students to remain active in the school community. As a member of South's student government, I know firsthand how important having a home field suitable for all sporting events is to the student body. | |
| Jo Morman | 11/6/2013 8:25:32 PM |
| I fully support the sports improvements at South High School. These kids deserve the opportunity to play on their home field. This improvement would be an asset to all of South Anchorage. | |
| jo morman | 11/6/2013 8:07:12 PM |
| Please support improvements to South High football stadium. This is so important for our players and fans! It would be a wonderful addition to south Anchorage. | |
| Lisa West | 11/6/2013 7:40:01 PM |
| I strongly support the football field improvements at South Anchorage High School. These field improvements at will benefit not only the students currently attending the school, but also all future students. These improvements are part of the growth of a vibrant, healthy community. Strong communities are not stagnant. They are fluid, changing as the needs of the community change. These field improvements are a direct result of our thriving South Anchorage community. The improvements are a positive asset to the community as a whole. | |
| Robert Jones | 11/6/2013 2:38:48 PM |
| Please let South Anchorage enjoy the same privileges of other Anchorage teams. Let home mean HOME, not AFS. It seems a shame that a few uncaring neighbors can block an entire school of 1700 students and twice as many parents who feel like HOMECOMING should be HOMECOMING, not nearby. If sports, and camaraderie, are important to the development of students into adults, then let the team spirit be felt by all. Traffic on one day, or one night, plus the sounds of cheering students and fans is all part of the growing up process for students. Sports is a wonderful alternative to all the other things which plague students. Let them play AT HOME,Please. | |
| Mariam Steele | 11/6/2013 10:57:51 AM |
| All three of my children go to South. We represent the part of the South High community that either plays a school sport or is involved in the school spirit of South by supporting our teams by going to games and cheering on peers. Having a safe place with sufficient accommodations helps us as a community gather with our neighbors and friends to support our young people in this very exciting period of their lives. I see the field improvements that South High is asking for as a great asset to the south Anchorage community as a whole. Thank you. | |
| Judy Koloski | 11/4/2013 7:33:51 PM |
| I am in absolute favor for the upgrades to the SAHS fields. I have and will have other grandchildren that attend South High. I am a proud supporter of South High in all ways. By allowing the different sports have home games at the school will help give the kids things to do, keep them out of trouble and encourages more family time! Please don't let this opportunity pass by!!! | |
| Andrea Story | 11/4/2013 8:54:07 AM |
| I am very much in favor of the athletic field improvements at South Anchorage High School. The ability to host home games is a huge benefit not only to South students, but the surrounding community. The opportunity to host home games at South is huge for continuing to build community spirit. Concerns about parking are greatly blown out of proportion. Many people who would attend the games at South live in surrounding neighborhoods within walking distance. I have current and two future South students...and all three are athletes. Kids who participate in sports are less likely to engage in drug and alcohol use, are often more community minded, and have higher self esteem than kids who don't. They learn important lessons about overcoming adversity, perserverance, working towards a goal, and teamwork. It's been said that it takes a village to raise our children...what better opportunity to be that village and support positive activities for our children to participate in within our own community. | |
| Tara Koloski | 11/4/2013 8:52:49 AM |
| I am strongly in favor of the improvements at SAHS. What a great opportunity to expand the sport opportunities for all these young students and for all the students that will be coming up… this expansion be able to be used for many years to come. To have all these upgrades and the funding already covered so they don’t come out of taxpayers’ pockets is amazing. I think we are very lucky to have this opportunity and it will be a shame if this does not pass. How lucky are we that we are having a discussion over kids and parents cheering for other kids while they are playing sports, when this so could be about other hard issues many of the other schools in this town are having to deal with. This is for the kids, BOTTOM LINE … Let them have a place to play!!!! | |
| Rachel Hatcher | 11/4/2013 6:53:04 AM |
| I am in favor of the football stadium improvements at South High. If these homeowners wanted to dictate what happened on the land near them they should have bought it. It could have been worse, maybe the Municipality could have decided to make a dump there. There's a reason people buy a 100 acres and live in the middle of it. If you bought a little lot with a house then you get to hear what you neighbors are doing...its that simple. Sure there are noise rules for these little neighborhoods, but this is for football games that will play a few evenings a year! And these neighborhood folks like to enjoy the school in other ways, like walk on the fields because it is flat and convenient, well then they should compromise and let the athletes have what they are due... a proper field at their school. Since this is a fully funded asset, at no cost to the tax payers, there is clearly no argument there. | |
| Dawn Knoblock | 11/3/2013 2:04:24 PM |
| As a member of the South Anchorage community and the mother of 2 teenage sons that are actively involved in their community and sports, I strongly support the completion of the South High School Football Stadium. The homeowners in the area who oppose the completion of the field bring up some issues that just do not make since. Parking and traffic really should not be an issue. I have attended many large events at South and have never seen parking flowing out onto the streets. It does not make since for someone to park on the side streets surrounding the school. Unless you are very familiar with the area you would not even know how to access those streets. Leyden Rd. is off of Huffman. You cannot gain access to Leyden Rd. from Elmore. You would have to weave your way into that street from Huffman and then hike through the woods and across a baseball field or practice field to get to the football field. The only homes affected by traffic would be the homes off of Elmore. I take my son to school everyday and can tell you that the traffic after a football game would be no different then the traffic that is there everyday before and after school. The noise that is given off during a football game is an exciting and cheerful noise. It is a group of parents, family, friends, team mates, and supporting community members cheering on their team. The athletes who work hard in the classroom, and out there on that field should be rewarded with that “NOISE” each and every home game. The South athletes have home games at other locations. It is not the same feeling as being on your own field. The field you practice on everyday, the field that holds all of the blood, sweat, and tears you put into the sport every season. I do not think the noise coming from a sports field should negatively impact a person’s quality of life! The completed facilities at SAHS will be an amazing asset to our community now and for many generations to come. Please do not let this project be impacted by a few negative voices that do not represent the South Anchorage community as a whole. Thank you. | |
| Leverette Hoover | 11/1/2013 6:06:44 PM |
| I support the improvements at South High: Lets stop the bickering, put together a game plan that includes specific times for games, that will have the least amount of noise and light impact on surrounding neighborhoods and get it built. As a South Anchorage Resident and TVEHA Home Owner, we need a safe & secure place for South Anchorage Track & Field, Girls Flag Football, Soccer and Boys Football teams to call their home. I have witnessed and been involved with removing less desirables from fields of play at AFS facilities. The "Not in My Back Yard" homeowners need to be open minded, while working to be part of the solution and not the road block. The past is the past, we have to move forward and find the solutions for a win/win for everyone. If it wasn't for greed and changing of the original design plans for the TVE neighborhood, the homes adjacent to the school property, would have never been built. The orignal plans for TVEHA, did not include the homes adjacent to the school boundary, as it was originally designed for this area to provide adequate buffer from the school. Exact wording on the design plans note number 6 by Dowl Engineering: "Existing vegitation within the vegetated screening easements is not to be disturbed. In event of disturbance or removal of vegitation therein, the area shall be replanted w/in 5 years to provide for 75% visual absorption of the structure under winter conditions". Well, guess what? Developers stripped the area and built more homes, because a school was planned to be built in this location, the lots became a hot item. I remember when this happend and the excitement for a new neighborhood that would provide a great school for our children to attend. Therefore, when my wife and I decided to purchase our second home, we looked specifically in TVE. Our first choice was a home on the school boundry line, but unfortunately, there were none for sale at the time we were looking. I have noticed, when these homes do go up for sale, they move quickly. Don't say that homes with activity fields in the vicinity lose value, as this is an opinion only. If you do the research, you will see where property values have greatly increased with attractive schools and facilities near by. South is a great school with many accomplishments. It definetly attracts some of the best student/athletes in the state. I hear about broken promises, not in the plan, ASD continues to lie, practice field only on original plans, sound & lighting issues and the negative impact on the property value. Really??? Lets take a look at reality. I have been in Anchorage for almost 20 years. I have seen this city change and the majority of the change has been for the better. This is definetly for the good of our neighborhood and the students of South Anchorage. People & Places, are always changing over time. Now is a good time to make the change. If you are against the field, maybe it is time for you to change. "Not in my back yard", well, you should have considered that before purchasing a home that borders school property. Specifically, TVE, it was in the plans before your home was built. What truly are the pro's and cons? Can it work? Can I be part of the solution, if it is in my back yard? If you don't agree, make the change and move on, as I know alot of folks that would appreciate the opportunity to move in. Let's improve our neighborhood, build an appropriate facility for the school and as community leaders, monitor and control the impact to the surrounding areas. | |
| Brenda Daigle | 11/1/2013 1:11:00 PM |
| South Anchorage High School has a wonderful sports program and it's necessary to make upgrades to the current field. There are lots of high school students that access the field so the determination of this case will impact 100's of students. SAHS is a newer ASD school but doesn't have lights on the field nor does it have bleachers or a score board. My son played football and at the home games on the SAHS field there is a noticeable difference in quality in comparison to a high school like Dimond. It was so nice to see the game with lights on at the Dimond game!! I never realized how dark SAHS was until I went to the game at Dimond HS. I assume, with proper lighting, players on the field could get a better sense of what their next move should be when they can see their opponents. It's difficult to encourage our sports teams to do their best and play to win when the field they practice and play on is sub-standard. These young people need to be proud of their school and its facilities and in order to do that this field must be updated to meet the standards of a winning team! | |
| Sharnee Epley | 11/1/2013 9:20:59 AM |
| I am in support of the full completion of the SAHS football stadium. It's understandable that the surrounding neighbors may be concerned or irritated with the proposed completion, but how many of those neighbors were there before the school was built? How many have since moved in after the school was built? Even if many of the complaining and/or opposing neighbors were there prior to the construction of the school and field, they knowingly purchased property next to vacant land that obviously had the potential to be built on and was obviously zoned for what now there. There was never a guarantee to those property owners that they would forever have vacant land next to their properties. ASD and the tax payers have ALREADY spent money to get the field to it's current state, it's a huge waste of funding and effort to not take it to full completion. The sense of pride and school spirit cannot fully be felt while playing at AFS. Give these kids their field. | |
| Kim Ottum | 11/1/2013 8:53:31 AM |
| As a parent of 3 very active students and resident of South Anchorage, I am extremely in favor of the completion of the football stadium at South Anchorage H.S. Having home games at the school represented is a critical part of school spirit. Are there other places to play? Yes. Should our kids have to play home games on someone else’s turf? No. Would more students be able to attend the games being at our own high school, rather than in mid-town or at another school? Yes. Many students don’t get to watch games as they can’t get to the venue halfway across town. The project is completely funded and should be completed. Hosting sporting events builds community and school spirit. Parking is not an issue. I have been to numerous events at SAHS and have never seen cars overflowing onto neighborhood streets. Have things changed on Elmore Road and in South Anchorage since 1978? Yes. It’s called growth and progress. The students, parents, faculty and all involved are excited for the completion of the stadium and deserve to see it completed. I encourage you to approve the completion as it will benefit so many for many years to come. Thank you. | |
| Anthony Izzo | 10/31/2013 7:32:30 PM |
| I strongly support the construction of any and all sports infrastructure, including a Football Stadium, at South Anchorage High School. | |
| Amy Young | 10/30/2013 3:29:34 PM |
| The ASD has yet to show that there is a need for yet another football stadium. The Anchorage Football Stadium and existing High School football stadiums are more than adequate to serve the needs of the High School football and soccer players. There is no way to fit a stadium in the existing space at South High School without negatively impacting the surrounding homes that were built years prior to South, the District was well aware of that when they built the school and designated the fields as "practice only". The ASD refuses to make any compromises regarding usage and noise, and refuses to acknowledge or accept any responsibility for the impact that the additional traffic will have on the neighbors bordering the school. The noise studies conducted were done in the Spring when there were no activities at the school site - these are not a fair representation of the noise during a football game. ALL of the community councils have declared that they do not support the additional stadium seating and PA system at South High School. Please look at the facts surrounding this issue, please understand that the ASD representatives do not speak for nor have any interest in working with the homeowners who have the most to lose. The athletes, parents and students will not miss a beat if stadium seating and a PA system are not installed at SAHS. They will continue to play their schedule, parents and fans will have to travel somewhere to watch and school pride should not depend on whether or not the games are played on the school grounds or a few miles away. Thank you. | |
| Elizabeth Parks | 10/30/2013 12:27:46 PM |
| I am AGAINST any additional build out of sports facilities at the SHS. This site is undersize for the proposed additions. This sub division only agreed to the SHS coming into our community as long as there was nothing other than a practice football field. The noise would impact our residential community with noise and lights plus lower the price on homes. This is not just for 4 homes games but will become a Commercial Sports venue with rental 7 days/week, 16 hr/day. | |
| Dana Curtis | 1/7/2013 8:02:25 PM |
| I am hugely in favor of the field improvements for SAHS. This is an already funded project that will not require any new taxes. I have had the privilege of coaching at SAHS since its inception. I still remember the feeling of a home game and that's a part of High School, a part of growing up that every kid deserves to experience. From practicing on a dust field in the very beginning to the current facilities SAHS has come a long way. The improvements have been critical in the health and safety of the Student Athletes. The stadium and track is a center point of activity in the neighborhood in the summers with walkers, runners, children playing catch, and various outdoor activities. The improvements are beneficial to the community as a whole not just the students at SAHS. All kids in all sports deserve the home field high school experience and not just the athletes but the student fans as well. | |
| Timothy Stevens | 1/7/2013 1:51:27 PM |
| The request to amend the public facility site plan for the South Anchorage High School should be denied for the following reasons: 1) The Anchorage School District has not completed a master plan to determine the need and compatibility of large outdoor sports arenas for all high schools. This is needed before anymore sports arenas are authorized. Without publically vetted master plan the citizens of Anchorage and the state are spending local and state funds unnecessarily and possibly inappropriately. 2) Past Promises. During the rezoning of this property to allow a high school to be built on it the school district promised the citizens of Anchorage and the neighborhood that the athletic fields would only be practices fields ( as noted on the plate for this parcel). As a member of the Huffman O’Malley Community Council at the time the property was rezone, the members of the Council and the neighborhood fought hard to gain concessions from the school district in order to get approval to build the school on this site, on a parcel of property that was too small (recommended acreage is 50 acres, South High is 46), and it was being built within an existing residential neighborhood. The School District, realizing there was a lot of opposition to the school because of unwanted noise, traffic, and a host of problems associated with large development, made these promises in earnest. Nothing has changed, therefore the School district should uphold their promise – keep the athletic fields as practice fields. 3) Lost of open space available to the public. As practice fields these fields offer the public the ability to enjoy them as open space, to play on when not being used by the school, and to offer green space between neighborhood housing and the school. If a football stadium is allowed to be built the football field and running track would no longer be available to the neighborhood to recreate on. Instead the field will be lock up and removed from the public use. Many people used the running track and field to walk on. They do so because it’s convenient, level, and safe to walk on. If the stadium is built it will put unwanted development closer to neighbors, impeding their enjoyment of their own property. 4) A football stadium would create unwanted noise, trespass, traffic and litter. Sporting events are notoriously loud. Football games are usually played on weekends and can go into evening hours. If this were to happen at South High the neighbors would be exposed to these unwanted environmental trespasses. So not only are they impacted by noise and traffic during the week if the stadium is built they would then be exposed to unwanted noise traffic, litter and other nuisances on weekends, and not just during the football season. We have repeatedly asked the Anchorage School district to restrict the use of the football stadium, if built, to only be allowed to host home football games, typically four a year. The School district is not willing to do so. They state the stadium would be available for any district sanctioned function or event. So instead of only being impacted on four weekends a year the neighborhood could be impacted every weekend from May through October. 5) Before this and any more school site plans are amended to allow sports arenas, the School District and the Municipality should look at the option of fix, upgrading the Anchorage Football Stadium (AFS). That facility was built to host football and other sporting events. Doesn’t it make more since to support that facility than to build numerous stadiums? Wouldn’t it be cheaper and a better use of state and local funds to maintain the AFS than it would be to build one at each high school? Another advantage of the AFS is no one team has a “home advantage”, which makes the games really more competitive. Thank-you. | |
| Traci Ross | 1/7/2013 9:24:51 AM |
| I strongly support the completion of the SAHS stadium. | |
| Elizabeth Roberts | 1/5/2013 7:36:43 PM |
| I support the completion of the SAHS football field. I have a current flag football player and a future football and soccer player and see the completion of this project as a benefit to the school and the students. | |
| Joan Adler | 1/5/2013 11:49:26 AM |
| I would like to say I strongly support the completion of the stadium at South High School. I have experienced first hand the ridiculous waste of money busing two schools from the south side of town to Eagle River or Chugiak to play a game. Some of the finest high school athletes in the state go to school st South and it would be a boon to our community to be able to come out to our own neighborhood school and help support them. I don't understand the argument about noise and lights being a problem as games do not go late into the night. As one other person already pointed out, the seasons are short, the track and fields are also used by the community so let's complete the fields and let our neighborhood school thrive. I believe this will enhance our community not degrade it. | |
| Tim Cook | 1/5/2013 9:32:00 AM |
| The task of the planning and zoning commission is to ensure that a proposed facility is compatible with the area where it is to be installed. Although there may be much popular support for the proposed stadium, the hard evidence is that it is not suitable for the location. The existing parking facilities are theoretically marginally adequate; however the truth is that Leyden Drive will likely be used as street parking by attendees. The streets in this neighborhood are chip sealed, not paved. There are no sidewalks, and no street lighting. As a result, it will cause congestion, parking issues, and have pedestrians walking on dark streets. It is completely foreseeable that a pedestrian will likely be hit by a vehicle given the conditions. This community has already lost one student to a mishap in the parking lot after a sporting event. That was a very sad event. It would dishonor Taylar Young’s memory to not ensure the safety of others and allow a similar tragedy to occur. The clamor for a new stadium should not overshadow the duty to do so in a safe manner. From an engineering perspective there is no feasible way to mitigate the noise that will be generated by football games. This fact has been stated in previous expert testimony before the commission. There is also no way to mitigate the light pollution. Homeowners in the area will be impacted by football games through the week. Although the schedule is not finalized, the district has stated that the facility will be used not just for South Anchorage High School games but by other schools as well and organizations. The expectation is JV games on Wednesday and Thursday, Varsity on Friday, Pop Warner on Saturdays, conference and other games on Sunday, and practice at other times. The School District has also stated that it will lease the stadium for other sporting and non-sporting events. Can you imagine living next to a stadium and being subjected to the noise and all that goes with football for 3, 4, 5 or perhaps 7 days per week for an entire season. And just when you thought it was over, let’s have a rock concert or a marching band competition. I am in favor of a new stadium, however not at this location. From the inception of the planning for the South Anchorage High School, the location was never intended to house a football stadium, much less a full-fledged 1600 seat lighted flag ship arena for sports events. The physical size of the grounds is inadequate and it is incompatibility with the surrounding area. Vehicle ingress and egress is limited. It simply is not the appropriate venue for this stadium. Planning and zoning is tasked with the difficult job of evaluating projects not from a popularity perspective, but from the perspective of community compatibility and public safety. Given that the proposed stadium is not compatible and that there are very real safety concerns, the Commission should reject the proposed zoning variance. | |
| Walter Harmon | 1/5/2013 8:41:05 AM |
| Being a parent of both a former and eventual SAHS student, as well as a coach of multiple athletic programs, I've witnessed firsthand the value of 'pride' in school by students and their parents. This proposed facility and its impact is unmeasurable although necessary none the less as it will become the rallying point that brings our community together for a common cause. Your continued investment in the children of Anchorage is greatly appreciated. | |
| Anne Kessler | 1/4/2013 11:57:44 PM |
| I'm writing to state my strong support of the proposed field improvements at South HS. There are several reason why my husband and I support this proposal. (1) The improvements will be a positive asset to the school and the surrounding community. As residents of the nearby (w/n 1 mile) Kempton Hills HA, we use the school grounds quite frequently since they are the closest facilities we have within walking distance that resemble a park. As parents of two students at South HS (Classes of 2010 and 2013) we take frequent opportunity to be involved with their education and extra-curricular activities. Sports have been a key element in this focus. Our children and their friends have participated in football, soccer, band, cheering, flag football,track, volleyball and baseball We love to watch the various events and DO cheer for their challenges and success knowing these experiences will have life-long benefits. (2) In the ten years we have lived in this neighborhood, we have come to respect the ASD and the Booster Club members involved with the planning of these field improvements. We know they have already been and will continue to be attentive to concerns over traffic, noise and litter through better designs, scheduling and including students in the stewardship of a home field and respect for the community. (3) The events made possible with the improvements have a finite number and can monitored and even restricted to minimize the impact on close neighbors who oppose the project. (4) We do not want to see the Planning and Zoning Co. reward those who are spend more energy being adversarial than willing to find solutions and common ground. (5) The South HS community has worked hard to secure legislative funding for this project. It will benefit hundreds of students and families currently connected to SAHS as well as hundreds more in the years to come. Being able to host events at their own school will give students a greater sense of pride in their school and add ways for the various Booster Clubs to raise their own funds for needed equipment and programs. (6) Lastly, community members at a recent HALO meeting which I attended in December raised the issue of home fields in contrast to the use of the AFS near Sullivan Arena. This is a legitimate concern for taxpayers. Our experience, however has been to see a deterioration of the facilities at AFS. Unless the City reverses its intent in regards to AFS I see this as further reason to support local home fields at South and at other sites in the future. Need I say more? I urge you to support the south side community and vote in favor of these improvements. | |
| Bill and Sherry Tunilla | 1/4/2013 9:18:10 PM |
| We support SAHS upgrades! Last fall we were delighted not to have to drive across town to attend the local football game. A greater surprise was on our walk our teens introduced us to other teens and their families. The atmosphere was relaxed as teens, parents and grandparents enjoyed the evenings. It reminded us of a simpler time when entire communities felt a responsibility to support neighborhood children and school events, and High School games were something not to be missed by young families or elderly, everyone felt welcome. Anchorage has purposely chosen to grow communities inside of our greater community in hope to increase greater friendships and partnerships fostering greater respect and a safer and more prosperous city. Our focus should not be on property but on supporting the next generation who will inherit our city. We should also consider how the lack of safe lighting and seating affects those with physical disabilities. Our facility currently does not allow them the same privileges that those more mobile. Laws promote the same privileges and yet fall we were embarrassed as South hosted a game and a visiting handicapped Mom struggle to get up after sitting on wet grass on the hillside. At another game an unprepared grandmother was loaned a portable chair from a stranger for her less than able husband. All across the country efforts are being made to engage our youth in healthy activities and bring our children out from behind closed doors. Millions of dollars are being poured into health care as obesity, is on the rise. Therapists challenge families to engage teens in healthy activities as violence and drug use increase. Let’s finish what was started at South! Let’s all celebrate the great teens who work so hard to play sports, let’s continue to work hard to find places like South High School to bring our community together! Great Games! Great Kids! A Great Facility to serve Alaskans for many years to come! Bill and Sherry Tunilla Turnagain View Estates | |
| Anna Eberhardt | 1/4/2013 4:25:33 PM |
| As a parent of children in the Anchorage School District and an Anchorage resident, I fully support the completion of the SAHS fields for football/soccer/track and field. Our south-side community should have the ability to host home games with proper seating and lighting. Home events whether football, soccer, baseball or track and field all create a real sense of community and include sports participants, family members and fans, not just a few homeowners with the “not in my backyard” attitude. These completed facilities will be a wonderful asset to our community for years to come and should not be shelved because of a few negative voices that do not represent the greater Anchorage community. | |
| Patrick Eberhardt | 1/4/2013 3:57:22 PM |
| In Anchorage, school play fields lie silent and unusable for 6 months of the year. There is precious little time for student PE classes and student sports to be outside playing and competing. Nothing is more important to the health of our children than increasing the availability and quality of outdoor athletic facilities. The idea of playing football and baseball at SAHS is not new. The football and baseball play fields were clearly shown in the SAHS master site plan drawings in the original geotechnical investigation of the site by R & M Engineers in June 2000. (Reference R&M Drawing A-02, Job 051047.) The existing field improvements at the baseball and football/soccer fields at SAHS have been driven by large grass roots efforts. The goodwill, funding, and personal effort of hundreds of people are being opposed by a select few area residents, whose primary concern appears to be varsity football home games. The perceived minor inconvenience to area residents from these home games, which occur 3 or 4 times per year, is far outweighed by the positive impact to thousands of students who now (and in the future) will participate in: JV football, women's flag football, varsity/JV/C level boys and girls soccer, and all track and field events. In addition, the field attracts area residents for physical activities as well as city league soccer games for all ages. I urge the Commissioners to stop reviewing and re-reviewing this project. It is time to push forward with the completion of the athletic fields at SAHS. Thank you. | |
| Patrick Augafa | 1/4/2013 1:28:39 PM |
| I have had the privilege of coaching at SAHS since its inception. I strongly support the upgrades that are being proposed at SAHS. From practicing on a dust field in the very beginning to the current facilities SAHS has come a long way. The improvements have been critical in the health and safety of the Student Athletes. The stadium and track is a center point of activity in the neighborhood in the summers with walkers, runners, children playing catch, and various outdoor activities. The improvements are beneficial to the community as a whole not just the students at SAHS. Thank you. | |
| Clark Hopp | 1/4/2013 12:51:31 PM |
| As a resident in the South Anchorage community, a parent of a three South High students, a grandfather whose grandchildren are part of Anchorage School District, and a coach of South Anchorage Football I strongly support the proposed field improvements at South Anchorage High School. Over the years, I have experienced Anchorage athletics at a variety of fields and facilities, and I have seen communities with their own facilities rally around their team. The addition of a stadium in our "backyard" will create a sense of community unlike anything South has experienced. Many will be introduced to the new era of South athletics where memories will be made and shared for decades by future generations. An on-campus stadium will foster a sense of community for students and will provide a rallying point and sense of pride and tradition. Fans young and old, alumni and South neighbors who may never have attended South sporting events will now have an opportunity to be part of the South family. The South stadium facility promises to have a positive impact on our community and will benefit more than just a few athletes. • A closer facility has the potential to increase sports and extra-curricular student participation which in turn will aid in improved academic performance and higher graduation rates. • An on-campus stadium will make it easier for students, families and neighbors to attend games. Greater attendance means more funding for improved athletic and academic programs. • A new stadium close to South high school will increase alumni participation and support, building a stronger school. • The new stadium will bring energy to the community and give interested people in the area an opportunity to interface with their neighbors. It’s a chance to be part of something bigger and meet and support new friends. | |
| Lori Schanche | 1/2/2013 9:54:43 AM |
| I support the football improvements at South Anchorage High School. Both of my children attended South HS and my son was on the football team. Since ASD changed their policy about not playing games at AFS (and paying to use that facility) it was a chore for the team, parents and fans to drive all the way to Chugiak HS for games. It was also unsafe. Providing this football facility at the school allows home games and is a positive community asset. I continue to be surprised at all the negativity and falsehoods generated from the neighborhood over sports field improvements for our kids. This site plan amendment takes much into account to provide as little impact as possible, lighting has been designed to not shine into adjacent homes, parking can be contained in the existing lot, and there will be few games per season held in the afternoons. Also, this improvement is not being funded by ASD therefore it is a win for all. The property was obtained and a school was planned far before any of the homes in Turnagain View Estates were ever built, so the arguments of 'we were here first' are not based in reality. I would also like to remind the Commission that this site plan review passed unanimously before the UDC in 2012 - it was only later that it was decided PZC was the more appropriate body. I urge you to please support the site plan amendment for our children, it will truly make South HS a complete facility for our community. | |
| Mary Downs | 12/31/2012 3:53:37 PM |
| I oppose the construction of the football stadium at South High School. The space available is inadequate for such a facility without significant impact on nearby homes. The homes closest to the proposed site were constructed prior to the construction of the school. I was unaware that a school would be built on this site at the time I purchased my home. Obviously had I known a large stadium with the resultant noise, lights, and traffic would possibly be built here, I would have chosen another location to live. I support efforts to provide local students with appropriate facilities, but not at the expense of ignoring zoning regulations and common sense to build a facility that is not needed and will not reasonably fit on the proposed site. Also, on general principle it seems to me this large sum of money should be spent on providing much needed academic improvements in our school system. | |
| John Isby | 12/28/2012 8:44:40 PM |
| I fully support the improvements to the football field. Both my children are South High graduates and both played football (boys football and girls flag football). Considering that all the funding is in place and South is the only Anchorage High School with such an anemic football ground, the project should definitely go ahead. The football season is so short in Anchorage and the games so infrequent, I don’t think the improvements will cause a major inconvenience to the immediate neighbors. There will always be those that say “Not in My Back Yard” to an undertaking such as this, but bear in mind that the entire South Anchorage community will benefit from this project. A very vocal, well-connected few should not be allowed to derail this long-lived, well thought out project, to the detriment of our children. | |
| Kenneth Ortmann | 12/28/2012 2:40:48 PM |
| BROKEN PROMISES are the heritage of ASD. They promised never to make the 'practice field' into a stadium because they knew the site was TOO SMALL to support the stands, lights and sound syatem without negatively affecting the nearby homes. The existing parking is woefully inadequate to handle a 1600 person stadium and the 'promises' (Hah!) to keep cars out of the neighborhood is a joke. The days of 'needing' to have a stadium at every high school are long gone...we don't have to be like California or Texas! ASD will use this facility to maximum use including other teams playing when South is away....games EVERY week as well as soccer, track meets. And playoff games as well. So prepare for NOISE, TRAFFIC and TRASH. Don't be fooled by those claiming the TVEHA president does not have the support of the community. Opponents have had plenty of opportunity to elect someone else but are unable to because most of the homeowners SUPPORT the position he makes. Personally I think the shameless effort of the boosters to elicit students and football team alums to throw comments on here is ridiculous and transparent. | |
| Ray and Joan Eastlack | 12/28/2012 1:44:52 PM |
| Subject: Proposed project by the Anchorage School District (ASD) to construct a $2.2 million, high-impact, 1600 seat, football stadium with full professional amenities (herein referred to as Project) at South Anchorage High School (SAHS). Our Position: Deny the Project application. Reasons Why This Project Should Be Denied: 1. The project does not comply with the Hillside District Plan. 2. The residences surrounding SAHS existed years before the school was built. In order to gain local support to change the zoning of the available plot of land ASD promised homeowners in writing that the new school would have “practice only” athletic fields. 3. The SAHS site is too small for the proposed project. The noise and traffic would overwhelm the area. Some homes are just a 100 feet away from the field. Peace and quiet would be ruined just as it is around Dimond High during ball games. 4. ASD presented the project plans to the Hillside Area Landowners (HALO) and Huffman O’Malley Community Council (HOCC) this month and disclosed their intent to maximize the stadium’s use, with no limitations on scheduling and amenity use, and no consideration of impact to neighbors. They also stated that exemptions from the municipal noise ordinance will be obtained so monitoring and controlling amplified volume will not be required. Moreover, Department of Health and Human Services’ (DHHS) Tony Barret stated in two public meetings that there is no way to mitigate the human generated noise of spectators. For these and other reasons, HALO and HOCC each unanimously voted to NOT support the project. 5. SAHS currently has superior football, soccer, track, and baseball fields, and a new baseball stadium. 6. The project would be redundant considering that adequate game facilities exist already in the Anchorage area. 7. Project operating expenses would put further strain on the budget. 8. ASD and boosters for the project have demonstrated a callous disregard for area residents’ rights and for ASD’s promise to never seek stadium construction. Interestingly, only one of the boosters live near the school. 9. ASD did manage to build a stadium for the baseball field for 2012. Last summer, code violating noise levels were numerous. Complaints were ignored. Sincerely, Ray and Joan Eastlack | |
| Gregory Beischer | 12/28/2012 10:14:28 AM |
| Our family supports the construction of a football stadium at South High School. We believe that sports is the best way to keep students out of trouble and on a path to a successful life. A sports arena is a great place for students, whether players or fans, to interact with teaching, security and administrative staff at the school, thereby keeping a healthier, stronger, safer student body. This will only occur if the sports arena is as close to the school as possible. With proper controls on lighting, drainage, parking and event timing, a large football arena can co-exist very well in this neighborhood. The presence of the football field may even serve to increase the value of homes in Turnagain View Estates rather than decrease them as opponents have claimed. We urge that the city move ahead with the stadium. | |
| Amy Young | 12/27/2012 5:45:40 PM |
| The ASD personnel and the football boosters club have mislead the legislator who approved the funds and continue to mislead boards by claiming they speak for the community when they do not. They have not asked the community members who are neighbors of the school, many of whom have or have had students at south, if they are in favor of these "improvements". The dialogue about keeping students in school and doing well has nothing to do with a football stadium. These students sports experience will not be diminished in any way by not having a home stadium. The quality of life and home values for the residents neighboring the school will be greatly and negatively impacted. Bottom line is the area was zoned for "practice only" because there is not enough room at this property for a football stadium. Many of us bought homes in this area before the school was built because that was the case. The grant money won't go away if cooler heads will prevail and wait for some studies to be done regarding building of 8 football stadiums in the ASD. Do not fall for the "parity" argument. There is no parity for gymnastics facilities, swimming, x country, etc. there is no parity in terms of educational programs offered at the high school level, it is a ridiculous argument. Thank you. | |
| Ross Morehouse | 12/27/2012 4:30:14 PM |
| As a former south anchorage student and football player i fully siupport the football staduim. it would be a great addition to the south side communtiy because it would help not only south football but alos other southside sports and sports run throough progarams like boys and girls club. i dont see how this could have negative effects as the football season is only a couple a months on the weekends. the staduim is also surrounded by trees which create a natural barrier to the surrounding area. i feel that the benefits of somehting like this are imeasurable and the negatives are few and are more than likely to not cause any issues. i see nothing but good coming from this and it will benefit all of the southside community | |
| Charlene Stanton | 12/27/2012 4:23:57 PM |
| This is my third try and running out of time.... If the city could not maintain the football stadium at Mulcahy, how will they maintain at least six at the high schools? When funding is needed desperately for education and maintenance of what already exists, does it make any sense at all to even consider football stadiums for more schools --- we're talking about maybe four home games? This is a no brainer. If you must spend , why not a swimming pool-- now, this makes sense, at least more people could use it! THINK | |
| Michael De La Torre | 12/27/2012 4:23:36 PM |
| As a South High football alumni and president of the graduating Class of 2010 I feel the football stadium would have a positive impact on both the community and the school environments. As a football alumni, I would have loved the opportunity to play on a home field instead of traveling to Dimond or even Chugiak for a "home" game. I live within TVEHA territory and find the remarks made in opposition of the stadium to be exaggerated and unfounded. In my experience as class president, we were always able to work out any concerns from the neighborhood, and events at this stadium will be no different. I fully support the stadium. | |
| Justin Moore | 12/27/2012 4:17:45 PM |
| I am a senior at SAHS and strongly support the field improvments at the school. Football has been been big part of my life for many years. There would not have been a greater feeling to play on a football field and call it our home field. As a member of South Varsity Football team for several years, we take pride in just about everything we do, from working with Habitat for Humanity, local charity drives to raise money, raising money for relief efforts (Hurricane Sandy)and others. Know that if the Stadium does get built that all the teams at South Anchorage High School will carry on this same sense of pride to the Stadium and make the community proud. I would add that because of the leadership throughout the community and school it makes me proud knowing that I will have two younger brothers attending South Anchorage High School. This will only make our school and community a better place. | |
| Mario & Rita De La Torre | 12/27/2012 4:10:13 PM |
| We wish to voice our support for the South Anchorage HS footbal stadium. We have lived on Mainsail Drive since 1995. The site plan provided to us when we purchased our home showed the area set aside for the South Anchorage High School. Our children were toddlers then and we looked forward to them attending a local high school within walking distance of our home. Our son was a member of the South football team all four years of high school and we attended home football games everywhere but our own school. Although our children have now graduated from high school, we are very supportive of the stadium. The high school is the center of a community and the ability for students and neighbors to attend home events binds a community to its students. While there has been opposition voiced in the TVEHA, there are many in the neighborhood in support of the stadium. | |
| Jan Moore | 12/27/2012 4:05:32 PM |
| I fully support the completion at SAHS football field. I am a grandmother of two SAHS students who play football and I am really looking forward to "not" having to sit on the grass to watch their activities. The SAHS complex would be a great asset to our community and the students being able to play on their "homefield" would create a great sense of pride. | |
| Rhonda Gerharz | 12/27/2012 3:56:55 PM |
| As a lifelong Alaskan, a graduate of East High, a resident landowner in the South Anchorage community, a parent of a Service High graduate and two South High graduates, and a grandmother who hopes her grandchildren will return to Alaska and the Anchorage School District, I strongly and unequivocally support the proposed field improvements at South Anchorage High School. In addition, I support such improvements at ALL of our ASD high schools. Two ASD high schools already have completed field improvements in place. Three additional ASD high schools are ready to go through the same design and site plan review process that South is currently going through. The remaining two ASD high schools continue to work toward field improvement design and site plan review. The reason all ASD high schools are going through this process is because each of their surrounding communities - not just those surrounding South High - have spoken loud and clear. Legislators and our Governor, who are very well aware of the numbers who support such improvements versus the numbers who oppose them, have responded to the majority of their constituents. Although a handful of events will temporarily affect some opposing neighbors in terms of traffic and noise, the improved facilities at all of the schools do and will permanently serve the greater good of Anchorage. I urge you to support the field improvements at South High School, as well as all others to follow. Thank you. | |
| Paul Houston | 12/27/2012 3:49:32 PM |
| I am a proud Dimond High School graduate and nothing makes me happier than to see South High School lose. Therefore I am requesting that you not support the South High Stadium improvements. I’d actually like to see you remove the turf they have already installed. I’d rather they have a rundown dirt field like Mears junior high with no stands. That place never gets used. If you keep going with all these improvements, South High is going to see significant growth in community use and involvement. Consider the Dimond High Stadium. That place gets used all of the time. If it’s not a football game, it’s a track and field event. Someone is always using the field to practice and with the nice seating it just makes it so user friendly for fans. Plus people from around the neighborhood are always using the track and field for training of just having fun throwing the ball around with the kids. As a Dimond graduate, I just don’t want to see South develop the kind of community spirit and involvement that comes with a “home school stadium.” And while we’re talking football stadiums, would it kill you to put a roof on the seating at the Dimond High Stadium? If we had that it would be pretty much sport fan Nirvana. | |
| Kristin Reed | 12/27/2012 3:46:07 PM |
| I fully support the completion of the South High stadium with lights. We need a place that all of our students can attend school events and for our southside community to attend as well. | |
| Orvel Moore | 12/27/2012 2:51:09 PM |
| I am requesting your support in advocating the South Anchorage stadium upgrades. I have lived in Anchorage for over sixty years and I have participated in many improvements that benefit our entire community. South Football Complex would be a fantastic addition to our community, and what better investment than investing in our youth! | |
| Gabriel & Andrea Lujan | 12/27/2012 2:40:58 PM |
| Eleven years ago when we purchased our home, we were not aware a high school was coming in across the street. We were delighted to hear the news, not only from a convenience standpoint for our four kids who would attend it, but for the community as a whole. Our HOA does NOT REPRESENT ALL HOMEOWNERS, as it claims, in its dispute against ASD and the stadium. Hearing the sounds from the school bell or announcements at 10am is no different from hearing a crowd cheer at 6pm or 8pm, except that it is more fun. In fact, it is thrilling to hear the cheering and shouting as teams perform to the delight of the crowd. Our four children all participate in athletics and we are looking forward to the day when we can walk to the school to see all the varsity home games and, hopefully, some regional and state tournaments. As neighbors, parents, kids, students, and a coach, we look forward to finally having a stadium in our neighborhood to allow another venue for sports in our municipality. Having been raised in Anchorage, we realize the evolution kids have taken in finding things to occupy their time. What better way than through organized or pick-up sports games in a safe environment where they can just be kids? We fully support the building of a football stadium in our neighborhood, and hope that once it is built, all our neighbors will acknowledge its value and welcome participants and fans. | |
| Kelly Thompson | 12/27/2012 2:25:25 PM |
| As a long time Anchorage high school sports fan I urge you to support field improvements at South High School.All schools should have their own football stadiums. It will be exciting for South to have their own field and not play home games sometimes at even Chugiak High School. Dont let a few of non-informed homeowners who probally have never attended a game before stop this exciting project. | |
| Mike Akers | 12/27/2012 2:24:55 PM |
| I support the expansion of the football fields. As a tax payer and someone who does live in district, why are we letting one group dictate what ASD does to improve our kids lives. South Anchorage High School could be great model for future sites in all commuities. I do understand the concerns that TVEHA bring up, but it can all be fixed in the design. Why not help to be part of the solution, instead of just saying "not at all"? | |
| Roger Moore | 12/27/2012 2:05:08 PM |
| My wife and I strongly support the expansion of the SAHS football field, We both feel this would be a great addition to our community as a whole. The TVEHA does not speak for the entire community, just one part of it. And reading some of the comments, "NOT MANY IN THEIR OWN NEIGHBORHOOD". WE also live very close to SAHS and are looking forward to a completed project very soon! | |
| Gerald and Elaine Pollock | 12/27/2012 1:50:15 PM |
| This property is too small to amend for further expansion of sports fields. The original plan needs to be followed. No lights, no big games, no sound burms, etc. | |
| Cheryl Myers | 12/27/2012 1:49:27 PM |
| I strongly oppose building a football stadium at South High. I am a Turnagain View Estates homeowner and feel that the South High site is way too close to homes to support a football stadium. There is insufficient room to buffer noise and lighting and I am concerned there is not enough parking. ASD promised our neighborhood the South fields would remain practice fields only, as they agreed the site was not suitable for a stadium. In addition to my personal concern about this stadium's impact on my neighborhood, I question the fiduciary responsibility of State appropriations for building additional stadiums without ASD first developing a master plan determining the actual need for stadiums. Stadium need and site compatibility need to be determined prior to building stadiums on sites that might not be compatible, stadiums that might or might not even be needed and that will definitely be expensive for ASD to maintain. | |
| Aimee Gasser | 12/27/2012 1:14:43 PM |
| As a TVEHA homeowner, I am not in agreement with what is being stated as the "majority" who does not support the football field upgrades. I, as a TVEHA due paying homeowner and taxpayer, fully support the building of the South Football complex, and think its a great addition to our community, and to my growing children that will one day be able to play at their home field. Please give favorable consideration to field upgrades and enhancements at South Anchorage High School. -Aimee Gasser, 13542 Mainsail Drive | |
| Steve Gasser | 12/27/2012 12:53:24 PM |
| Steve Gasser 13542 Mainsail Dr. My family and I have recently purchased a home within the TVEHA neighborhood, and are strong advocates for the South Anchorage stadium improvements. With deliberate intent, we chose the South Anchorage area because of its schools, neighborhoods, and community involvement. We want our kids to be exposed to a home field stadium experience, and the affiliated pride of being "at home". Others have claimed it will drive future purchases in the area away; on the contrary, we recently purchased our home near the school fully aware and in favor of the field upgrades. We are requesting your support in advocating the South Anchorage stadium upgrades. | |
| Mike Hayhurst | 12/27/2012 12:51:16 PM |
| I am writing in support of the project to finish the football field at South high school. Although we live near the school and our boys do not play football we aren't concerned with the traffic or noise. There is plenty of parking at South and the season and game night opportunities are very short. and limited. I believe most of the issues certain respondents have stem from a ten year grudge that the school was built. in the first place. | |
| Janice Northey | 12/27/2012 12:31:40 PM |
| I would like to put in my support for seating and other additional improvements to the Sputh Anchorage sports field. I live on the Kenai peninsula, but travel to watch my grandson play sports at South Anchorage as many times as possible through the year. A finished complex would be very nice for this grandma, instead of sitting on a blanket. Thanks for listening to my support of the field completions. | |
| Yvette Hernandez | 12/27/2012 12:26:46 PM |
| I fully support the completion of a football stadium at South Anchorage High School. Each high school should have its own home field. It is very sad when students and alumni have to go to a generic sports complex to attend their homecoming or home games. Home games build a sense of community and pride. They practice their hearts out on that field and that is where they should also celebrate the results of their efforts. The games with the most attendance would be the varsity football games, of which, there are four home games a year. The games usually start at 7pm and run for two hours. The season starts in late summer and ends in October. Can we please set aside our grievances for this short period of time and let our kids play football on their home turf? The rewards are greater than the sacrifice. | |
| John Lewis | 12/27/2012 12:23:20 PM |
| I am the Head Coach for both football and track programs. I would first like to thank everyone for your support for all of South activities and thank everyone for voicing your comments. The finishing of this project can be one of the greatest moments for past and future South high students and faculty. I know that some home onwers do not wish this project to finsh, more for it to stay as a practice facility, not having any varsity sports played on campus. We already have Soccor, J.V. and C-Team football and flag football, the State Frosh/Soph track championship, and now baseball playing games on our campus. For the last 9 years our football program has won and lost all over the state, bringing with it one of the great fan bases I have ever seen in my 22 years of coaching. With that said, why can't our fans, students, faculty, and parents play a home game at home, not at Dimond high. We already have an ice rink with lights that was built for the community use, we have trails that are groomed for public use during and after school. Lets finish this stadium so parents can at least stop sitting on a grassy hill to support their children after school activities. Thank you all for supporting South Anchorage and its efforts in creating one of the nicest schools in the state of Alaska. | |
| Jacqueline Hoover | 12/27/2012 12:07:01 PM |
| To the members of the Planning and Zoning Board as a homeowner in Turnagain View Estates and neighbor to South High School, as a parent of three ASD children, as an educator and an active member of our community, I write this letter to you strongly supporting the field improvements being considered at South Anchorage High School. Returning to Anchorage in 2006 and having the opportunity to purchase a home anywhere throughout the city, my husband and I chose to live in South Anchorage within Turnagain View Estates partly because of the stellar reputation that South High was building as a young school. We also purchased our home because we felt fortunate to live near South High, albeit not a public park, whom generously offered exterior amenities to our family and our quality of life. As a parent of three very different children, I realize that receiving an education comprises much more than the academic experience. My children, like many others in the Anchorage community, build a quality education experience not only because of their academic studies but also because of the extra-curricular events offered by the district. These experiences, whether they be Battle of the Books, Robotics, DDF, Band & Orchestra, Athletics or others allows students to become part of a team of competitors striving to achieve a common goal. These activities necessitate dedication, self-sacrifice, communication skills, time management, goal setting and drive in obtaining a common goal. A future employer or institute of higher learning would expect these of their employees and / or learners. These activities are molding our children to be productive citizens. As a parent, having my children active is important. Whether they be stretching their brains through academic means, practicing in any one of their sports that requires them to physically work out or the like, again, my children, like many others are learning physical skills, the importance of maintaing optimum health, execution of strategies, the essence of being part of a team, drive and determination. Additionally, many of the extra curricular organizations that children taken part in have a service-learning components built in, focusing on the essentials in giving back to the community. Within this recent year alone my children’s teams have worked with Habitat for Humanity, donated time to Beans Café, organized a clothing drive for Clare House and contributed to Toys for Tots. These activities, again, are molding our children to be productive citizens. As a teacher, I see great value in sports related extra curricular activities. Those students who may not be stellar students may be stellar athletes. Through athletic involvement, they find their niche in the school community. Competing in sports gives them both a physical outlet to emit their energies and gives them a reason to attend school, maintain quality grades and persevere, in some cases to be competitive for scholarships to institutes of higher learning. These activities are molding our children to be productive citizens. As an active member of our community, beyond those already listed, I see great value in the upgrades of a sports facility at South Anchorage High School. It will be a place for not only students to make memories, proudly cheering on their fellow student athletes, it will also be a place for neighbors to congregate, converse and share in the talents of the children in their neighborhood. It will be a place for the youth of the neighborhood, not yet of high school age, to dream about what might be - given hard work, vision and dedication. These activities are molding our children to set goals and be productive young citizens. As an active community member and an active member of TVEHA, its important to note that although TVEHA leadership shares that they represent a majority opinion, this is only an opinion at a TVEHA meeting where voting took place, a meeting of approximately 80 households. Please note that a two-thirds majority of those 80 households present would only result in 50 households opposed to the field improvements – 50 households of a 165 dwelling association comprises a 30 percent opposition. I believe it is important to point this out in your discerning process as the entire community has never, as a whole, been asked to vote on this issue. Finally, providing a quality facility for the South Anchorage Community would strongly benefit the community. Please view the request for upgrades favorably. I write this letter to express 2/3 of 80 households in attendance at the meeting would be 51 households of the 165 homeowners Respectfully, Jacqueline Hoover Homeowner in TVEHA | |
| Todd Parrish | 12/27/2012 12:06:36 PM |
| I am writing in support of the athletic field improvements at South Anchorage High School. Our family lives in the neighborhood directly south of the high school, and we utilize the facilities on a frequent basis. My children participate in athletic programs both at the the high school, elementary and middle school levels. I believe the proposed improvements would significantly improve the quality of life of our community. One of the primary reasons we purchased our home in this neighborhood was because of the close proximity to the high school and its facilities. Thank you for your consideration of this letter of support. | |
| Leverette Hoover | 12/27/2012 11:57:37 AM |
| I will keep my comments simple and to the point, as a homeowner in TVEHA I support the improvements at South High and before specific owners point fingers at the Anchorage School District, they need to have all there facts straight: 1. Dowl Engineering File 142-22, dated January 7th, 1993; Case Number 5-9059 - Design of TVEHA. Per design, Track C1A, where all the homes are built along the South High Corridor, were never originally planned to be built. It was clearly stated in Note #5: Vegitated screening easements shown hereon are stipulated within zoning approval per A.O. 84-75. Note #6: Existing vegitation within the vegetated screening easements is "NOT" to be disturbed. In event of disturbance or removal of vegitation therein, the area shall be replanted within 5 years to provide 75% visual absorbtion of the structure under winter conditions. ***Shame on the developers for advancing into these dedicated original homeowner greenbelt buffer. Obviously, common sense tells you that this buffer was needed, because of the plans for the school. Someone clearly had taken this into consideration during the original design, but greed took over. 2. TVEHA and these homeowners need to understand this. Common sense also tells you, if you buy a home near a school, there is going to be noise and activity due to the comings and goings of children, parents, employees and visitors to the school. If there would have been a home for sale on this boundary, I would purchase immediately. This is where we would want to raise our children. 3. ASD has on numerous attempts tried to discuss issues and concerns at TVEHA meetings, trying to allow information that all Americans have the "equal right" to enjoy, but under the leadership of TVEHA board, they would not authorize. TVEHA would also not authorize membership comment on their website, only the information of the president was divulged stating that his obligation was to the majority, amazingly contradictory to his own words. At these meetings, there has been misleading information, that could have been put on record and have the facts straightened out and / or explained, if ASD were present. Numerous times, I had to correct the board with their false statements or shed light where they weren't certain. 4. I believe ASD is willing to accommodate TVEHA and truly listen to the concerns, but I also believe that the TVEHA board is not willing to make this a win/win for everyone. 5. Unfortunately, this is splitting the community and hurting our children. I have experienced first hand, having to remove homeless people off fields and witnessed less than desirable people around other public fields we currently use. This project would allow our students to take pride in their own facilities. As homeowners, take pride to know we have a local community school to call our own. Work with ASD, regulate the sound, lighting and game scheduling. Provide solutions, listen, communicate and be part of the solution, while being a champion for our local students. Respectfully, Leverette Hoover Homeowner: 13608 Mainsail Dr. | |
| John Gerd | 12/27/2012 11:57:10 AM |
| I am against the proposed football/soccer stadium at SAHS. It is too close to the surrounding residential neighborhood and the noise, lighting, and other impacts cannot be sufficiently mitigated. The ASD will also rent this facility out to other groups, compounding these affects. With constrained resources, the ASD should be looking to shared facilities rather than building redundant stadiums at each high school. | |
| Brian Kile | 12/27/2012 11:45:51 AM |
| I am a parent of 3 SAHS students and have coached youth & teen sports within the Anchorage community for nearly 20 years. The past 10 years have included coaching football for ages 7 - 18. At each level, facilities have been an issue. The youth teams have difficulty finding practice fields, and the compromised condition of AFS not only inconveniences teams, but poses increased risk of injury. The safety of players is jeopardized, especially at the high school level where players hitting the ground with more force. Adding stadiums within the district is not a desire, it is a need. This fact is not stated to disrespect those who oppose, but rather to support those who would benefit from the addition of the facility. Countless students will pass through SAHS over the years. Providing this resource to all schools in the district, where able, would inevitably improve accessibility to other fields by the youth teams and increase sports participation for all ages. Noise has been cited as a concern for those opposed to the project. Considering high school football games are hosted from mid-August through mid-October (a mere 2 months) and only home games would be held here, the impact is only 4-5 games in a 2 month period. The issue of lights was also raised. These lights would clearly only be used when the facilities would be needed. Field sports are not played in the winter months, so after mid-October, the lights wouldn't be needed. The previous comments regarding the hockey rink lights being used despite frequent use of the rink also give cause for comment. Winter is a long season & many of us - adults & children like to get outside as weather permits. I appreciate the resources available to our family including school ice rinks, local trails, and bike paths. Many of these remain lit throughout the winter months & it is not uncommon to see them empty. On the other hand, when being used, it is undeniable that they are appreciated and another reason that we live in our communities. I fully support the addition of stadiums at all area high schools and look forward to the approval of requests needed to complete the improvements to the SAHS field. Growth in Anchorage has resulted in an increased need for infrastructure which includes schools and associated facilities. This growth is a testament to the caliber of our leaders and the subsequent desire to be part of a greater community. | |
| James Mcsharry | 12/27/2012 11:39:02 AM |
| Not only do the South Field improvements benifit the South community but it benifits a community in whole . I believe strongly that all High schools should be able to have home games at there school,, it brings a lot of pride for an athlete to be able to play on there home field,,, Turnigan view Estates do no represent the South community they represent a Few home owners and I mean a Few that have an agenda!! Thanks for your time | |
| Dennis Young | 12/27/2012 11:36:32 AM |
| I support the continued development of athletic facilities at SAHS. The construction of the football/soccer field with bleacher seating for Varsity home games will be a positive impact for the student athletes and their peers who attend games to cheer them on. While sports is not an ends to a means it is a very positive way of bringing family and friends together within the social community area. SAHS already plays JV and C team home games on the "practice" field since opening plus other youth sports. The only change (impact) to the request is the ability to hold Varsity football (4 to 6 games annually in the fall), Varsity flag football (4 to 6 games daytime in the fall) and Varsity boys and girls soccer games (12 games total or so in May). Of these games the largest impact to the surrounding neighborhood will be boys Varsity football to which the school parking and area is well capable of handling the number of people that would attend. The games are played either on an early Friday evening or Saturday afternoon/early evening. While I respect the opinions of the Huffman-O'Malley CC and HALO I do not believe that these two boards represent the desires of the entire area truthfully and in it's entirety. Both boards are comprised of a small minority of homeowners that while their intentions may be meant to be for the better good of the area. The current boards have shown that the majority of members have had nothing, but disdain for SAHS ever being built in it's current location. Both of these boards were "against" the permit to allow the completion of Taylar's Ballpark (my son) this past summer for various reasons and none of the potential impacts that they stated would happen occurred. PERIOD! The ballpark was and will continue to be a good neighbor. While I respect the opinions pro and con the negatives complaints that I have heard are often very exaggerated down to the point that because the school uses a PA system to make announcements during school hours (be it verbal or a bell) that broadcasts over the grounds outside of the building it is an nuisance to the surrounding homes. I can tell you personally I have had many many neighbors to SAHS come up to me over the past couple summers to say "Thank You" for constructing a positive addition to SAHS in Taylar's name. The football/soccer field like Taylar Young Memorial Ballpark will be nothing, but a positive for current and future student athletes for the SAHS community area. As well as the other student athletes of Alaska HS. Schools are the backbone for family life in every neighborhood in the MOA and the continued development of these resources should be encouraged for the betterment of the kids for all aspects of life. Sincerely Dennis Y. | |
| Jedidiah Gerharz | 12/27/2012 11:31:39 AM |
| I fully support all new sports facility improvements at Sourh Anchorage High School. As an alumni of four years of the football program at south, I can say I know how much it has meant to the students who had to practice on the rock and dirt field before. Being able to play on a brand new field can only lift the spirits of the players. Further adding an official stadium to the field would lift the spirits of the entire South Anchorage High School community. | |
| Allen Black | 12/27/2012 11:27:28 AM |
| We live directly west of the baseball field. It seems that locked area is now controlled by American Legion and the high school boosters. The original design for that area was for a softball field and a non varsity baseball field. Neither design was ever completed. The area had long been enjoyed by the community dog walkers and those who engage in casual sports -- mostly soccer and other ball games. Now it is available only for the use of a very few. As a part of the original bonding proposal of the school, ASD committed to very specific limitations on the use of the 45 acre site -- especially since it failed to meet ASD minimum size standards to support a high school. (Yes they added fenced property owned by AWWU and space to the middle of the streets to reach 50 acres) ASD offered written site restrictions in order to gain local voter support for the school. Now ASD is disavowing those commitments. In its place, they are creating a lower hillside commercial enterprise which will negatively impact the surrounding residences. No provision has been made to expand police protection or eliminate the effects of the commercial activities at the sites. At this time there are no apparent routine police patrols. This will have to change with this expansion. At the initial Anchorage Design Review meeting this year, an ASD assistant superintendent falsely stated that additional trees would mitigate light and sound intrusion caused by stadium lights and crowds. I later looked up on the internet the effect of dense trees as a sound barrier. Way back in the 70's an East coast traffic planning department conducted an extensive study regarding the noise abatement properties of trees. They likely were studying an alternative to solid fences for highway noise deadening. They concluded that at most a 5% sound reduction could be achieved by a 200' dense forest. That is the reason we often see tall solid fences in residential area near a busy highway. I recognize this development will bring unwanted changes to the character of our neighborhood. Others have stated many other concerns which I agree with. My home town of Springfield, Illinois abandoned use of on school grounds varsity stadiums and replaced them with a single stadium for use by each of the 4 schools about 1949. They still have 4 schools. I have yet to see any proposal to return to the large on site varsity stadiums at any of the schools there. The available areas on the school grounds serve the non-varsity activities. However they do have auditoriums for school cultural events. I support ASD honoring their original well conceived agreement regarding athletic facilities, repair the municipal football stadium, and let neighborhoods surrounding the schools maintain their intended character. Please do not support this expansion. | |
| Rick Hammond | 12/27/2012 11:21:49 AM |
| I support the lighting of SAHS fields. I have read a number of the comments made to date and understand the opposition’s concern: unwanted noise and light transmission to offsite properties. These properties are generally located to the west of SAHS “ball fields” which understandably could be affected. There should be ways to mitigate these affects by designing the lights: •Located along the fields’ west side to provide higher intensity illumination, casting light to the east; and •To provide cutoff lighting for lights located along the fields’ east side. Unwanted noise can be mitigated by directing the public address system to the east. The proposed improvements are in line with ASD’s mission statement: “Launching lifelong learning through inspiration, exploration, and connection.” As indicated by the preponderance of supporting comments, the fields provide an opportunity for local gatherings, to inspire kids (and parents) to be involved and connected to each other through extracurricular activities. The Mulcahy Stadium fields do not provide this level of experience in that they are unavailable to younger kids that have to rely on transportation. | |
| Tracy Stewart | 12/27/2012 11:17:17 AM |
| I graduated from Service High School (SHS) and later returned to Anchorage after college/grad school, making it my home. I have had one son graduate from SAHS, one is currently a Junior and the youngest is a seventh grader at Goldenview. Schools are built in neighborhoods near where children live. As Anchorage grew SHS could no longer serve all of the population and SAHS was built. There will always be impacts on those living closest to any school, whether it is K-6, Jr or Sr. High school. My kids have played at Rabbit Creek Elem and participated in Football at Spring Hill and Bowman Elementary schools. It is important that ASD honor obligations to mitigate any impacts of having a school next to a neighborhood. And I acknowledge that there will be an impact on a handful of nights each fall if/when a stadium is built. Having said that my children play/have played football and soccer. I think sports rounds them and supplements their academics. My eldest is currently playing DIII football and getting an excellent college education at Lewis and Clark, in part because of the entire educational opportunity offered by SAHS. I am in support of the completion of the stadium at SAHS. Thank you. | |
| Vernon Vreeland | 12/27/2012 11:14:56 AM |
| I grew up in Alaska and played football through high school and then college. Seeing the support that sports/activities get in the lower 48 and then the lack of support our kids get is sad. There is no good reason not to build a seating situation at south. The few selfish people standing in the way should be ashamed. | |
| Kathi Gallagher | 12/27/2012 11:08:50 AM |
| TVEHA does not represent the masses. There are a good portion of homeowners who do support the fields. I cannot give you an exact number because the question of "Do you support or oppose the South High field improvements?" has never been voted on by TVEHA members. The votes that have taken place at homeowner's meetings have skirted around the issue of supporting or opposing the fields. Those of us who support the fields have asked that a vote take place asking the question directly yet that has not happened to date. TVEHA Board does NOT represent the masses. They represent their own personal agendas. | |
| TinaMarie Kile | 12/27/2012 10:49:09 AM |
| As a parent of 3 SAHS students, I have supported initiatives which would not only benefit my children, but those within the entire district. While not all students are athletes, most take pride in wearing their school colors and supporting their teams as they compete through each sport season. Students who currently attend Dimond and Chugiak High Schools are fortunate enough to play their home games at their schools. The turn-out for games played on school fields is generally higher than for games played at AFS, further testament to the desire of students and families to support their community school. School facilities and resources are often one of the highest priorities for home buyers, and were for our family. Continuing to improve sports facilities at SAHS will only support an increased interest in homes in the area, especially those within walking distance. Thank you for your time and consideration on this important issue. | |
| Brent Williams | 12/27/2012 10:33:52 AM |
| The original plans stated "practice fields only" for a good reason. There is not sufficient real estate to construct a "stadium" type playing field. By now attempting to drive a "square peg" down a "round hole" the ASD and South Boosters are acting with total disregard to the original approved plans and agreements made with surrounding property owners. I ask that you not be swayed by the emotions of "boosters" and students who call for the stadium without any regard for those who would be terribly impacted by such a project. The ASD, to this day, has still not come into compliance with the original requirement regarding the buffer screening of 75% from off school grounds during winter conditions. Thank you for your consideration of my comments. | |
| Ann Marie Valdez | 12/27/2012 10:33:27 AM |
| I fully support all of the improvements to the South High football stadium. My son is a member of the varsity football team and we live in the neighborhood directly adjacent to the school and field. Having the stadium right on the school grounds will be great for the community and students alike. | |
| Kevin Boyd | 12/27/2012 10:24:27 AM |
| I support the new facilities at South High School. The positive attributes far outweigh the negative. I don't agree that property values will be negatively impacted by the improvements. | |
| Suzanne Baker | 12/27/2012 10:21:42 AM |
| I have lived in Anchorage for over 55 years, on the Hillside for 26 years and have seen many, many changes to our city. I fully support the South High School football stadium being built! I am encouraged by the way this will bring another sense of pride in their school to my grandchildren and their friends who play football and sports at South, and hopefully their children one day as well! I have been to the field many times, and even now some people do not see it as a place for athletics but only a place to walk their dogs, the baseball field is much more sanitary now for our children and a great improvement! I don't believe that the parking is an issue, as many neighboring families and kids would more than likely walk or ride bikes to the school. Opposers are talking like there would be 1 car per seat, and obviously that is NOT the case if they ever went to a football game at AFS they would know better. As far as the lights, I have only been to very few games this year when lights had to be used, It's light well into the night for us Alaskans, we all live and have found a way to deal with that! | |
| Peter Rodionov | 12/27/2012 10:17:35 AM |
| I support any and all improvements to keeping our children involved in school whether its academic and or sports related. It would be better to have kids busy with football, soccer, baseball and hockey than to have them running the neighborhood looking to get into trouble. I do not think its our homeowners associations right to use our dues to fight any personal beef they have towards the building of the stadium. | |
| Keith West | 12/27/2012 10:06:54 AM |
| The field improvements at South Anchorage High School will be a great asset to the community and help improve the accessibility of sports around Anchorage. | |
| Andrew West | 12/27/2012 9:59:05 AM |
| I support the field improvements at South High. I was on the state championship football team of 2012. I think every school should be able to play home varsity games at their own home field. I don't understand why people are opposing this wonderful project. It will only be better for the community. | |
| Nick Curtis | 12/27/2012 9:43:57 AM |
| I live right behind the South High football field and fully support the proposed improvements. | |
| Raymond Moore | 12/27/2012 9:19:32 AM |
| As an SAHS parent, I support the improvement of the football stadium. When does the city or ASD make decisions based on what only a few oppose? If this was the case we would not have new constuction, traffic lights, road repairs, parking tickets and certainly not roundabouts. I have lived on the Southside for many years and have heard most of the debates that effect Hillside. Point is that it has all worked out and will continue to work out! As the city changes so do the neighborhoods....ALL neighborhoods (none are exempt). | |
| Nick Curtis | 12/27/2012 9:13:34 AM |
| I live right behind the football field and fully support the proposed improvements at South High. | |
| Ty Schommer | 12/27/2012 9:03:21 AM |
| I am in favor of finishing the south high ball field with lights and using it for school sanctioned events. friday night lights and cheering crowds are welcome by me in a suburban setting a few times per year. i am not in support of our neighborhoods "official" stance on this and do not feel that our HOA represents a large cross section of our neighborhood though well organized and vocal with our collective funds they indeed are. | |
| Mike Mills | 12/27/2012 8:48:02 AM |
| I strongly support the stadium improvements for South Anchorage High (and also for the other high schools on tap to receive upgrades). Who can deny that athletics greatly adds to the high school experience? Who can deny that hosting and cheering at a home football game is one of the best memories of any high school student? The small number of days per year that the lights and sound system will be used (a handful or maybe two handfuls) will certainly cause some impact on the neighboring home owners, but truly a minimal amount of impact. As a policy body, the P&Z Board should not allow a small impact on a few (which can be greatly mitigated), to eliminate the tremendous positive impact on the greater community. This is what balanced public policy is about--the greatest good for the greatest number. Here, it is not even a close call. Anyone who purchased a home near a high school (or future high school) certainly reaps great benefit in higher property values and must expect impacts that come from the proximity of the high school, including athletic events. Please approve the site plan changes so our high school students and the greater community can enjoy an addition that will create thousands of lifelong memories and even greater Wolverine pride. | |
| Ehren Strahn | 12/27/2012 8:35:55 AM |
| Please improve the school and the scholastic programs. | |
| Bruce Morgan | 12/27/2012 8:02:21 AM |
| For the sake of the children, please improve the South Anchorage High School athletic fields. | |
| Jay Carey | 12/27/2012 7:57:30 AM |
| I support the football field improvements, it's good for the community and good for everybody that backs SHS athletics. I would however like to see the lights on timers on hockey rink/football field, this would save thousands of dollars when not used. | |
| Alex Slivka | 12/27/2012 7:11:32 AM |
| Comments to Planning & Zoning Board December 27, 2012 Presented by Alex Slivka on behalf of the Turnagain View Estates Homeowners Association, 165 homes that border South Anchorage High School. We are here to ask the Planning & Zoning Board to take two specific actions: 1. Please deny the request by ASD to install a football stadium at South Anchorage High School. 2. Please direct the Planning Department to enforce the existing special limitations. These requests are made on behalf of the vast majority of homeowners who border this site, requests that have been repeatedly affirmed at our meetings by at least a 2/3rds majority vote. Stadium supports repeatedly claim that only a small minority oppose this stadium; this is untrue. Beyond our 165 homeowners, both the Hillside Area Landowners (HALO) and the Huffman O’Malley Community Council have consistently opposed this project. Both groups again recently voted unanimously to oppose the football stadium. Our legislators, Cathy Giessel and Mike Hawker, both opposed funding for the stadium project during the legislative session. Stadium supports also variously claim that this facility is needed; this is again not true. There are already 3 football stadiums in the Anchorage Bowl. Further, neither the ASD nor the Anchorage Assembly has formally determined the need for this facility; they only recently agreed that a community wide assessment of facility needs should be conducted. We would also suggest that this hearing be postponed until such time as this review is completed. Supporters variously claim that the impact to the surrounding neighborhood would be modest due to the playing of only 4 varsity football games in any season. This same misleading statement was made to Lesil McGuire in seeking her support. What ASD has acknowledged is that the 4 varsity football games would be in addition to soccer, flag football, JV, and C team games. The impact of this existing activity is magnified with the addition of lights and PA. ASD has claimed that they would operate the PA within the noise ordinance. This statement insults the neighborhood; which has had to repeatedly file complaints with Health and Human Services for noise ordinance violations; including the operation of the recently approved PA for the Baseball Stadium. These complaints have been ignored by ASD. Supporters point to the benefits of athletic participation on education. They fail to mention that existing facilities already meet all these needs. Supporters have never presented any proof that redundant football stadiums present a greater good; the redundant operating costs will inevitably come at the expense of the classroom. Supporters claim that our neighborhood should sacrifice our rights for the “greater good” of the community. This argument runs completely counter the concept of “equal rights” that all American’s enjoy. ASD has a continual record of fiscal mismanagement on this site. Despite repeated requests to put the existing lights for the hockey rink on a timer, ASD prefers to spend $50 per day in electrical costs alone to light up a rink that is very rarely used. That is more than $5,000.00 per year. Despite any representations to the contrary, we fear the lights to the stadium will also be on every winter night. ASD promised in writing that these fields would be for practice only. In testimony last year Mr. Abbott represented that Service would never get a stadium because the site was “unsuitable”. Today they are asking for a football stadium at South High, and another one at Service, where today such a facility is feasible??? At what level of contradiction do you have to question every statement made by ASD? We believe you only need to look at their actions to know the truth. What about the existing special limitations placed on the site by the Planning and Zoning Commission? Despite repeated requests from 2004 through 2010 to replant, we were consistently ignored. Only when the UDC pointed out the woeful condition of the buffer, did they consent to plant some trees in 2011. Today they have clearly stated that they have no intention of honoring the special limitations; and the Planning Department has consistently ignored repeated request to have them complied with. Their application contains a blatant lie; that no trees where every removed from this buffer. In fact, their first violation of the Special Limitations came in 2005 when, in response to the failure of their drainage system, numerous full grown trees were removed from the buffer, to be replaced with 3 foot tall trees. Repeated requests to remedy the situation were ignored. Their actions illustrate a government agency that believes they are exempt from the zoning laws that apply to every other entity. What about the clear violations of the Hillside District Plan’s mandate for “quiet neighborhoods and dark night skies”. Again ASD refuses to even study the potential impact that operation of such a stadium would have. They mention that there will be additional noise, and yet have refused to even study the impact. They do acknowledge in public hearings that the site offers no ability to mitigate the noise impact. We offer up again the original promise of no stadium; a promise that inherently understood the permanent negative impact that the noise would have on the community. Let’s look at their behavior since the baseball stadium was approved. That area is now locked, with no neighborhood access. Use of the field is restricted to South Baseball and the American Legion, essentially this public property has been taken away from the community, used by ASD to generate revenue, despite the prohibition on commercial ventures in this area. In their application they reference the Comprehensive Plan Policies #78 and #86 which speak to year round community access to facilities. In fact, as has already been seen by the baseball field, the ability for the public to access this field and track will be dramatically diminished. We only need to look at Dimond High, where the stadium gates have been locked for several months. The impact to the neighborhood will be immediate, permanent, and negative. This proposal duplicates existing facilities. With no determination of need by the Assembly nor the ASD itself, we feel the only right thing for the Planning and Zoning Commission to do is deny this application. Thank you for your consideration, Alex Slivka for the Turnagain View Estates Homeowners Association. | |
| Scott Risley | 12/27/2012 7:07:45 AM |
| I am adamantly opposed to the Anchorage School District’s anticipatory breach of contract made with area homeowners who relied, seemingly to our detriment, upon ASD’s past assurances that it would not do precisely what it attempting to do now. Any sense of sports-related community pride, teamwork and esprit de corps we hope to foster upon our children by expanding the sports facilities at South High School will be overshadowed by ASD’s teaching-point that it is socially acceptable and morally right for governmental entities to lie when it is convenient and to prostitute its integrity to the highest bidder. I am not some anti-education, knuckle-dragging, family-hostile, kill-joy curmudgeon. On the contrary, I have two advanced degrees, I am the father of five children who have participated in outdoor sports and marching band, and I have served two terms as president of a high school Parent-Teacher Organization in another district. As such, I am intimately familiar with the penetrating noise, blaring lights, abhorrent traffic and other “advantages” such expanded facilities would afford. That was one of the reasons why we purchased a home in Turnagain View Estates—so we could enjoy the benefits of excellent schools while being havened from the deprivations associated therewith. Label me as wanting to have my cake and eat it too, if you wish, but I did not promise anyone that South High would not expand its sports facilities; I simply relied on ASD’s assurances of such. For those who appreciate the noise, lights, litter, loitering and traffic inherent with such sports facilities, they can seek to purchase a home near existing facilities at a price significantly less than a comparable home located elsewhere. Conversely, if the South High stadium is built, those of us who wish to avoid such a public nuisance will have no alternative but to sell our homes at a price significantly less than a comparable home located elsewhere. That is why, in the event the stadium is built, ASD should be prepared to defend itself against scores of constructive condemnation lawsuits arising from the diminished property values of area homeowners. While the courts cannot keep ASD from reneging on its promises to area homeowners, they can make ADS pay for sacrificing its scruples on the altar of political expediency. | |
| James Akers | 12/27/2012 1:44:48 AM |
| I Support the Improvements of the Football Stadium at South Anchorage High School. I wish we had one there when my kids were in School. | |
| Shannie Moore | 12/27/2012 12:44:04 AM |
| My Husband and I are lifelong Alaskans who have lived on the South hillside for 28 yrs (my husband), and 26yrs (myself) We have seen a tremendous amount of growth THROUGHOUT Anchorage and both of us along with our 3 boys (18,14 and 10) strongly support the football stadium being built at South Anchorage High School!! I am hearing most of the complaints from the people that are against it (who might be in Anchorage because of the growth?) being noise pollution? I don't know how they can consider hearing the community cheering on our young athletes pollution?? My family lives right off of the highway (very noisy!) & we have dogs barking in our neighborhood and in the summertime we hear kids playing in the streets all day & into the night because it is the "Land of The Midnight Sun".... I don't complain because we all learn to adapt to our environment! We wanted to reside and raise our children here because South Anchorage is a wonderful place and we love our community & our neighborhood schools!! Living anywhere there are pros and cons, and it would be beneficial to our community if these few homeowners who are opposed to supporting this positive growth maybe try to find some pros instead of just the cons to their own property! We live in Alaskas largest city, and as the city grows and changes so must the neighborhoods....we are not the valley where you can easily own several acres of property to decide how peaceful and quiet your surroundings are at all times! My boys would love to be able to ride their bikes to the school to watch the Football games, instead of having to wait for me to take them across town! as they are tremendously enjoying doing that now with the Baseball games at South!!! Thank you for seeing the POSITIVES in this improvement to our school!!! | |
| Lucy Conner | 12/27/2012 12:17:17 AM |
| As a homeowner in Turnagain View Estates with one child due to attend SAHS as of the 2013-2014 school year, we are in full support of the ball fields and stadium project being completed. There are other folks on our Circle who also feel the same. We feel it is a project that will not only improve our community but also increase the value of homes, since SAHS has a high rating as a public school. Please do not delay this project anymore. Thank you. | |
| Joe Imlach | 12/26/2012 10:40:32 PM |
| Hello, I am writing to express my support for the field improvements at South Anchorage High School. I think these improvements will be a substantial addition to the South Anchorage area and should be supported. I have communicated with the HOCC and their chief objection to these improvements seems to be that the improvements would decrease the property values in the area. I strongly disagree with this assessment. Ten years ago I moved my family to the South Anchorage school district because it is one of the strongest in the city. I paid a premium for our current home over what I could have paid for a similar home in other areas of the city. I did this because of the quality of the schools. The proposed field improvements will only increase this quality by adding to the pride and community mindedness of SAHS. The opponents of the field improvements seem to hold a grudge against the entirety of SAHS. The reasoning for opposing these improvements communicated to me by the HOCC includes the fact that some of the homeowners in the area opposed the school in the first place. It seems that these individuals are opposed to growth of our city. Or perhaps they believe that our children should be offered educational opportunities ‘elsewhere.’ Perhaps they believe our students should be located in Arizona with our inmates? I find the whole NIMBY attitude of the objectors to be counterproductive. I believe that the school improvements will add to, not detract from, the vast majority of house values in the affected area. I believe that the community support for these improvements is overwhelming. I also believe that a few vocal critics of the proposed improvements should not derail the efforts of the vast majority who support them. Sincerely, Joe Imlach, Ph.D. | |
| Stephen Hendricks | 12/26/2012 10:31:40 PM |
| These are some of the reasons the reasons I support the proposed stadium upgrades at South Anchorage High School. The stadium presents an opportunity for students and their families and friends to develop and participate in cooperative interests. These are the things that societies place value in and are often defined by. I can appreciate how some present homeowners feel their longevity trumps any changes a community may desire. It is not an unusual position to hold. Parking is not a problem at the school. Close parking maybe, but not everybody sitting on a one of the proposed 1600 seats at these infrequent events is going to drive there alone. The contention the present parking is inadequate is unrealistic particularly in light of the number of vacant seats there will probably be most of the time and the number of people that will be sharing rides. What the proposed stadium upgrades represents will not disrupt adjacent homeowners tranquility as much as they suggest. Games don’t occur more frequently than once a week and don’t last more than a couple of hours. The ratio of these situations to other times when no games exist is lower than critics of this development have convinced themselves to believe. In contrast, the value the community will derive from these events will be worthwhile in more ways than can be completely imagined. Many people will retain memories they will share with their present and future families. I still remember and share moments I had in similar locations while growing up and playing and watching sporting events. I know our son will have similar events at this stadium, like other South High students, that he will long remember after graduating from there. | |
| Taylor Mcalpin | 12/26/2012 9:56:54 PM |
| I am a future student for South High School. I have been playing football for 4 years. I cannot wait to be a football player for South and be able to play on their new home field. class of 2019 | |
| Derrick Knoblock | 12/26/2012 9:53:19 PM |
| as a future student for South High School I would like to have a "home" football field to be able to play on. Thank you for allowing this to happen. class of 2019 | |
| Annette Funk | 12/26/2012 9:22:28 PM |
| My husband and I fully support the completion of specified field amenities at South High School. We live just a couple of miles from the school, and our second child is currently a student there. The additional traffic incurred would be virtually negligible to residents who already have ongoing traffic due to living near a high school. Those who live near a high school surely understand the benefits of accomodating and supporting campus sports and activities for our youth and their families in the community. This is a healthy, beneficial endeavor for our kids and families. We urge you to support this effort and proceed as planned. | |
| Donna Purcella | 12/26/2012 9:14:50 PM |
| I am against the proposed upgrades to Sahs. The asd does not need to be in the business of renting sports venues to generate revenue. Noise mitigation for the surrounding neighborhood would be impossible. Why not a pool instead? It could be used year round and would be within walking distance of hundreds of households. | |
| Madison Sauder | 12/26/2012 9:06:57 PM |
| As a student at south anchorage high school I am very supportive of the improvements to the fields at our school. I believe the improvements will provide more recreational opportunities for students and the community. Please support the improvements to our field! | |
| Dave DeLesline | 12/26/2012 9:04:23 PM |
| I strongly support anything that will give home field games to any high school campus. It is simply part of the high school experience. I would love to live next to the stadium for home games as I did in another state when I was a young adult. It creates a sense of community and should be embraced. I have always supported local sports because they were in my neighborhood. Here in Anchorage, I don't, because they are not in the neighborhood, they are in fairview, which would be fine for a school in that neighborhood. Please make happen whatever is necessary to grow the tradition on all campuses in town and have home games for everything possible. In reference to home varsity football games at South, you are talking about maybe 6 games a season, totaling about 20 hours of games in a whole year. Not much out of 365 days a year. | |
| Lisa Sauder | 12/26/2012 9:02:11 PM |
| As a parent of two students at south anchorage high school I am in favor of the field improvements. I believe the improvements will add to the quality of life for the entire community. Thank you! | |
| Lori Galloway | 12/26/2012 8:19:25 PM |
| We support the football field improvements at SAHS. We live in South Anchorage and have 8 grandchildren who may be attending South High in the future. The Taylar Young baseball field was a labor of love by many and will serve many students and fans for years to come. It is not unavailable by being locked & scheduled. It is being taken good care of so it will last into the future. The same will hold true for the improved football field - it will be kept in good condition and will serve the schools and community well. We have short sports seasons in AK, let's give the home teams a field to play safely on and staium to be proud of. Thank you! | |
| Taylor Nerland | 12/26/2012 8:14:29 PM |
| I have a son who attends South Anchorage high school currently and I believe that this project would be great for the surrounding community. If you go to any other high school in the lower 48 they play their home games at their local school. Not only does it allow for more community support, but it allows some kids that would not have had the opportunity to go to these games the ability to go and support their friends. This project should not have anything to do with parking (the school has plenty of parking). This project does not have anything to do with ASD's current financial situation (most the money is from a state grant not the school district). And this project should not be about a few homeowners' opinions (although they are entitled to them). This project should be about 1 thing and 1 thing alone... what is best for the current and future students at South Anchorage High School. If you were to ask current students opinions, you would see the overwhelming and probably unanimous support for this project. Please consider their opinions when making your decision. Thank you | |
| Lesa Johnson | 12/26/2012 8:14:29 PM |
| I am the parent of a 2012 South HS graduate. Football was a very important part of his high school years. I feel the proposed South field improvements would benefit multiple sports for multiple age groups of South Anchorage area children and families for many years to come. | |
| steve nerland | 12/26/2012 7:44:05 PM |
| I believe each of the eight Anchorage High school should have the ability to host home soccer, football, flag football,track meets,skiing events... Nearly EVERY other high school in the lower state's has a home field...making it easier for the community in that area to support it's teams and build a sense of area support. Plus at today's price of gas..those local events draw more folks...than driving downtown which might be 10-15 miles from various schools. From the the ASD standpoint...having bleachers at the eight high school fields would also allow the school's to gain revenue from outside group's renting the field and bleachers ...that helps the tax burden of those of us that pay property taxes. Plus hosting home events helps SAHS in supporting it's team's financially. I have lived within a few miles of the school site for 35 plus years...and was well aware that the ASD purchased the parcel in the 80's. Of course a purchase of that size WAS NOT going to be an elementary school so those people that seem "surprised" that a high school was going to be built...did not do their due diligence before they purchased property. This is a similar situation to people who purchase property within a few miles of the Anchorage airport...and are "surprised" that there is plane noise.!!! This is not a stadium...it is a high school field with bleachers....period. It is not Cowboy Stadium, or Ohio St. Stadium with luxury boxes, and nationwide TV.. etc. It is simply a place where SAHS team's can play their home games. The Varsity football team would likely only play FOUR home games a year... once every few weeks. in L. August thru E. October. The amount of attendance at each of these four games would be likely be approx. the same amount of students and staff that are at SAHS every single school day each year !!! Allegations that high school football games would draw huge overflowing crowds that would damage the neighborhood are simply unfounded. Most other contest's would draw a few hundred fans. The MOA has parking standards that ASD must meet for it's building ,grounds and facilities. There is more than adequate parking at SAHS to handle a few maximum attendance events that take place. If the event is expected to be larger than it is the burden of ASD to get a MOA special event permit..just like the Gold Nugget Triathlon at Bartlett HS and the Mayor's Marathon at West High. If area neighbor's have such concern about the role of the school's overall education that includes activities for young people that bring lot's of folks to the school site......perhaps those neighbor's should also try to STOP parent/teacher conferences which generate a lot of attendance and traffic several times a year at the school...or maybe they want to ban all after school plays ..or set an attendance limit...or allow them to only take place on certain days of the week..and Mr South event in the spring that has huge after school attendance and hundreds of cars coming to the school..!!! Well of course I was using humor.......it is ASD property...and their responsibility to help educate the children that attend in ALL areas of higher education. Let's allow the Anchorage School District to have what most other lower U.S high school's have at their campus's...a field with bleachers for fans to sit and enjoy the various sports played. | |
| Cliff Butcher | 12/26/2012 7:34:57 PM |
| I support the South football field improvements. Every school should have an opportunity to host sporting events at their school. It strengthens the community and would require no more parking than any other events that are hosted at the high schools. | |
| Lesa Johnson | 12/26/2012 7:32:38 PM |
| I am the parent of a 2012 SAHS graduate. Football was a very important part of his high school years. I fully support the field improvements for the South field and feel that many sports of all age groups would benefit from the improvements for many years to come. | |
| Blake Sanders | 12/26/2012 7:22:54 PM |
| My name is Blake Sanders, I am an ASAA soccer referee for the anchorage area. I am in strong support of the improvements to the SAHS field. As a referee I have noticed the dire need for playable fields which can accommodate large crowds of spectators and the planned improvements would greatly benefit the anchorage soccer community as a whole. My sentiments are reflected in the opinions of the entirety of the officiating community as well. Thank you for your consideration. | |
| Matthew Ha | 12/26/2012 6:52:45 PM |
| As an alumni of South Anchorage High School, I am delighted to hear of potential improvements to our new turf field. Anyone who has played or even observed sports can tell you the thrill of competition. The satisfaction of making a great catch in the end zone or scoring that amazing upper-90 goal. Jamming out in the band in support for your fellow students representing your school. Sitting there and watching your family member(s) working hard and relentlessly fighting to win. But the benefit to students does not stop there. With the skills to play as a team, to play under the authority of a coach, and to rely on the performance of others comes the need to learn new skills. The skills to be a leader. The skills to take initiative. The skills to submit to authority, and the jurisdiction to do what is right in a given situation. Skills that will not only make one a great athlete on the field, but a successful person off the field. Not to say that these skills cannot be developed without an improved field, but I would be lying if I said that improved facilities and more resources would not increase students' interest in athletics as both partakers and spectators. Leadership and social intelligence go a long way in the realm of college and the "real world", and I say the more we as an educational establishment can facilitate the development of these skills through athletics, the better. No student should be deprived the improvement of his or her resources solely because there may be some increased traffic and noise during 3 out of 168 hours in a week during football season. There is, after all, more to education than just getting good grades and scoring well on your standardized tests (they are still very important, don't get me wrong). Let's look from an economic standpoint. Another sporting event facility is another form of capital for the school district. South has one of the most spirited parents and student bodies in the entire state; demand for athletic events are always high, meaning there is much revenue to be made from admissions, concessions, apparel, etc. More money for the school district means more resources can be allocated towards the improvement of the city's education. Students can further expand the resources at their disposal to be educated and invest in their futures; one of the greatest positive externalities we can ask for. I believe this is, for lack of a better phrase, a very good thing. Given the reasons above, I would say without an ounce of reservation that the improvements to South Anchorage High School's turf field (and the accompanying improvements to the overall educational experience of South's students) are well worth the minor inconveniences of the occasional noise and traffic. Go Wolverines. Matthew Ha Class of 2011 | |
| Sharon L Smith | 12/26/2012 6:05:06 PM |
| Thank you for the opportunity to voice my support of the improvements to the South Anchorage High School turf field. I am a parent of a current student (sophomore) as well as a 2012 South graduate. Our family encourages a well-rounded high school experience consisting of community, academics and sports. These field improvements are necessary and will enhance the competitive experience of the students and foster a great sense of community. | |
| Elias Wilkey, IV | 12/26/2012 5:57:46 PM |
| I am sixteen years old, homeschooled, and I live in the TVEHA area, just a two-minute walk from South Anchorage High School. When I was little, before South opened, my dad used to take me sledding in the woods where South now sits. He would sit me on the sled and tie the rope at the front of the sled around his waist, and then he would run around. "Mush," I would yell, and he would run and pull me in the sled. This is one of my most precious memories, which I will always treasure. He also used to take me BB-gun shooting in that area. When South was opened, my childhood was destroyed. Everything I held dear was devastated beneath the rumble of bulldozers and concrete. This, I believe, caused serious developmental problems that still plague me today. My parents tried to ease my suffering my taking me to play on the new fields at South, but as they become more and more developed, they are increasing inaccessible and hard to play on. I would appreciate the halt of all future developments to the South fields so that when I want to ride my bike on the track or run with my dog on the turf, I don't have to climb a fence or sneak around. I worry about how South is always growing and expanding, spending money to become larger and larger. Soon, will they bulldoze my house? Your house? Think about it folks. We must stop the evil Wolverine before it engulfs us all. | |
| Griffin Toomey | 12/26/2012 5:51:33 PM |
| In May of 2013 I will be the 3rd in my family to graduate from South. I will graduate with varsity letters in football, soccer and track. South athletes need what Chugiak, Dimond, and ER already have----A home field. Please count me among the strong supporters of the improvements to the South Anchorage High athletic fields. | |
| Alex Toomey | 12/26/2012 5:45:31 PM |
| I am a 2010 graduate of South. While there I competed in Soccer, Riflery, and Cross Country. Please count me among the strong supporters of the improvements to the South Anchorage High athletic fields. | |
| Joann Toomey | 12/26/2012 5:37:33 PM |
| Please count me among the strong supporters of the improvements to the South Anchorage High athletic fields. | |
| Dan Toomey | 12/26/2012 5:32:54 PM |
| Please accept my input as a strong supporter of the South High stadium/football/soccer field improvements. In May my 3rd child will graduate from South. Each has benefitted from the education and extra curricula activites at South. The student athletes at South deserve a home field advantage. Given the turnout for sports, football seems to be the sport that causes the most concern....The realites of scheduling indicate that this may be an issue 4 maybe 5 times a year. It is encouraging that so many from the TVHome Owners support the improvements -outnumbering if not out shouting the opponents. | |
| Sharon Hayhurst | 12/26/2012 4:47:54 PM |
| Our family is in full support of South Anchorage High School and the completion of the football field. We live in very close proximity to SAHS, take walks there daily with our dog and we enjoy the outdoor activities offered. We believe in the development of our students minds with learning and healthy physical activities. We don't have children who play football, but still fully support the development and completion of the field. Thank you. | |
| Robin McSharry | 12/26/2012 3:35:38 PM |
| I have two boys that attend South Anchorage High School and I strongly support the field improvements for SAHS. This will give South the ability to have home Varsity events. The pride the students and parents take in the having events at their own school is huge. | |
| Yvonne Henrickson | 12/26/2012 3:33:06 PM |
| My family and I are in support of the amendment to ADD amentities to the football field at SAHS. We lived right behind Dimond High School before AND after the football stadium was built so we have first hand knowledge of what lies ahead for such a project. If anything, we ultimately enjoyed the sounds of the cheering fans & family, the feeling of anticipation/excitment on game days and more importantly, the sense of community support for our athletes who deserve decent facilites to excel at their sport. I will admit, we initially had reservations after learning the stadium would be built at Dimond High; however, I am confident the residents living near the SAHS stadium will come to see the ammenities added to the football field were well worth it and will be proud to live near such a beautiful sporting venue. Anyone who has ever had a child play an outdoor sport during the fall season in Alaska will be the first to tell you how imperative stadium lights are for athletes to practice and to play SAFELY. Why not give these students a fighting chance to compete at the top of their ability instead of keeping them hog tied to the few facilites we have available (which are definitely not enough)? Sound, noise and traffic pollution??? Give me a break!! Maybe it's time to visit Seattle again for a reminder of what pollution really looks like. | |
| Anastasia Brown | 12/26/2012 3:32:51 PM |
| Myself, my husband and our five children STRONGLY support the field improvements to South Anchorage High School. When we moved here nearly three years ago we chose our home because of the proximity to the school and plans for it's field development. We have five boys and look forward to enjoying football games, etc. at their home school. It is so important to foster a sense of community and sense of pride for South students and families and having a home field is key. Please grant these improvements. | |
| Mary Ann Esplin | 12/26/2012 3:30:00 PM |
| I live in the Turnagain neighborhood and I support the football field project at South High School. I know that this will improve the community in South Anchorage. The facilities need to be completed so they can be utilized to their fullest potential. | |
| Kim Ottum | 12/26/2012 3:19:50 PM |
| As a parent of 3 very active children and resident of South Anchorage, I am extremely in favor of the completion of the football stadium at South Anchorage H.S. Having home games at the school represented is a critical part of school spirit. Are there other places to play? Yes. Should our kids have to play home games on someone else’s turf? No. Would more students be able to attend the games being at our own high school, rather than in mid-town or at another school? Yes. Many students don’t get to watch games as they can’t get to the venue halfway across town. The project is completely funded and should be completed. Hosting sporting events builds community and school spirit. Parking is not an issue. I have been to numerous events at SAHS and have never seen cars overflowing onto neighborhood streets. Have things changed on Elmore Road and in South Anchorage since 1978? Yes. It’s called growth and progress. The students, parents, faculty and all involved are excited for the completion of the stadium and deserve to see it completed. I encourage you to approve the completion as it will benefit so many for many years to come. Thank you. | |
| Micheal dennis | 12/26/2012 3:01:58 PM |
| I support the South high Field improvements. I believe they will add to the community and the experience of the students at South. | |
| Christopher West | 12/26/2012 2:20:18 PM |
| I strongly support the field improvements at South High. The field will be an asset to the community, | |
| Marion Davis | 12/26/2012 9:26:30 AM |
| Our family supports adding a football stadium to the South High Campus as well as other sporting events as deemed necessary. Part of being affiliated with a school is providing on campus activities whereas students do not have to travel to a neutral site to host events. And there's just the camaraderie of having one's own sporting events on Home Campus. We can't say that in Alaska as we have been 'behind the curve ball' for some time. Finally, we have an opportunity to add nice facilities to our schools. While there are some in the area who have basically opposed ANY improvements, the majority of folks living in the area and supporting the school are in favor of adding the football stadium. The number of games played will not be a huge impact to the surrounding area. There is ample parking for the proposed stadium. One must remember there is some 1600 students that attend South and most have vehicles. We encourage your committee to approve the requested stadium without stipulations to accomodate the desires of the majority that strongly support South High activities. The request in not out of the ordinary nor unreasonable, but what might be expected to be found on a school campus. Regards, Marion Davis | |
| Heidi Ungaro | 12/25/2012 11:36:40 PM |
| I am in support of the South High Football Field. I live in Kempton Park which is within walking distance of the school hence why we moved here and why a lot of my neighbors do as well. I am also a Residential Real Estate Appraiser and am curious as to why the "few" naysayers have not employed or perhaps NOT been able to employ someone in my field with similar or superior expertise to prove their point? I do know a few appraisers who were called and they turned down the naysayers....... I wonder why ??? Actually, I do know why ;) At first I was surprised as to why anyone would oppose something so basically American as a football field at a high school especially here in Anchorage, Alaska where the season is uniquely short in comparison to most anywhere else in the USA but then again ....... | |
| Kathi Gallagher | 12/24/2012 10:24:50 PM |
| I live in Turnagain View Estates and my home backs right up to the football field. I am in complete support of field improvements at South High School. I have enjoyed watching the baseball games at the new Taylar Young Memorial Field and look forward to watching football games at the new football field. There are over 160 homes in TVEHA. The petition that Mr. Melms states has 100 TVEHA homeowners' signatures is skewed. It does not represent 100 actual homes. There are multiple signatures from single homes and multiple signatures from homes outside of the TVEHA area. There are many homeowners in our neighborhood who support this project. I encourage you to allow this important community project to move forward. | |
| Lisa West | 12/24/2012 1:14:07 PM |
| I strongly support the football field improvements at South Anchorage High School and will fully explain the reasons for my support at the public hearing on January 7. | |
| Richard Melms | 12/22/2012 7:06:34 PM |
| I do not understand why one part of ASD is asking to enlarge their practice facility while at the same time the superintendent of the school district is saying they have to lay off personnel because of budget shortfalls. What sense does that make?? The football boosters will tell you that the money to expand was a grant from the legislature and donations from others. They will also tell you that monies raised from ticket sales will "defray" some operating expenses. Well, the rest of the operating and maintenance expense from all the high schools expansions is going to have to come out of an already inadequate school district budget. So where are our priorities? Do we want improved sports facilities -facilities that are already wonderful at SAHS - at the expense of possibly laying off additional school personnel?? possibly teachers or teachers aides?? I submit to you that the sports facilities at SAHS are over the top wonderful at this point. More is not needed and the ASD budget is already in trouble. The city has the Anch Football Stadium which has been allowed to fall into disrepair. This facility could be refurbished and again utilized for area wide sporting events. It already has large playing areas, lighting, pa systems, parking for cars and busses, and main arterial access. What is not to like about that? | |
| Richard Melms | 12/21/2012 2:51:00 PM |
| I attended the HOCC meeting on the night of Dec 20, 2012. The ASD was there to present their case for enlarging the football facility. ASD brought a landscape architect named Terry Schoenthal from the engineering firm USKH to present their case. During his presentation the most revealing statement he made was to publicly acknowledge what ASD has never admitted. Terry said, and I am paraphrasing here, that absolutely nothing could be done to mitigate the noise that would be generated at a football game. I have been attending meetings for at least ten years regarding SAHS. The school district has steadfastly maintained from the beginning that they could simply "plant more trees" and the issue of noise would go away. Thanks to Terry's expert public testimony ASD can no longer make that claim. For this reason and others I urge you to deny their request. | |
| Amy Mackey-Hornak | 12/21/2012 2:19:28 PM |
| I am a parent of an Anchorage South High Graduate (2011) (and two from Service)that was actively involved in sports throughout his elementary to high school days. He grew up on the soccer and football fields throughout Anchorage, Eagle River and Wasilla. He began his athletic training with Pop Warner football as a child and Boys and Girls Club soccer programs. They were extremely important in his development as a young adult and having adequate fields to train on was always an issue for him growing up. There weren't enough and just not in good enough condition. As you are aware, being a part of a team, encourages others to care about others, to build and achieve goals and to be a part of something bigger than themselves. With the history of injuries that we had on our dirt fields, you have to know how happy we all were to be able to put in the turf field and begin the development of the baseball field at South High School. We were so grateful that we had the opportunity to provide a safer environment for all the teams and their coaches that use those fields. We need you now, more than ever, to have your support for this to be completed. Our community wants and needs this to be finished so we can continue to support the community sports from around Anchorage, sponsor events and allow South High to say "Come and be our Guests". Since the school was built, we haven't had the opportunity to host outdoor Varsity sports at South High and quite frankly, these students certainly deserve the opportunity to be a host in the community. There are always a list of teams needing the use of good facilities and the turf has helped with that. Please pass this so our kids and parents have a great community environment and can open their arms to others to participate in all the outdoor sports. Dimond High field is built with housing in close proximity and many people like to live close to the schools for many reasons. There seems to be concern about the bleachers holding 1600 people. Just because it seats 1600 bottoms, doesn't mean there will be 1600 cars driven to the sports activities. We as families go together in one vehicle to support our kids. Our choices for sports facilites are quite limited to Dimond High, AFS, the Dome (talk about parking challenges) Eagle River. We need to work together to get this done. The few that do not like this should not out weigh the benefit of the majority. All of the school kids benefit from this. ALL of them. | |
| James Howell | 12/21/2012 1:04:13 PM |
| I, and my family live in the cul-de-sac bordering the school grounds just south of the school on Gunwale Circle. We moved here over seven years ago. I played high school football in Alabama (a state you may recognize as one where football is a big deal) and enjoy hearing the spring/fall practices, the sound of pads clicking and kids working at becoming young men. But, I want to be clear, this debate is nothing about the kids playing football, the love of the game, the teaching of teamwork or the feeling of being on a team that young men will carry with them throughout their life. All of that can be accomplished, and is being accomplished, with the facilities at hand and with the hard work, discipline and dedication of the students, coaches and parents involved. This debate is about the minimization and use of the student athlete in the pursuit of commercialization of school property, the special interest of construction firms, and the degradation of a large area of south Anchorage neighborhoods, and the increased liability of Anchorage taxpayers. This is also about the lack of demonstrated need for further commercial operations on school grounds and the absolute, demonstrated inability or willingness of the ASD to manage commercial activivtes. These activities, the dedication of ASD property for their use and the taking away of that property and the buffer it provides are an inherent degradation of benefit and use to the community. There are several reasons not to approve commercial developemnt of a stadium on South High School property. Promises were made when the school was constructed that these would be practice fields. The previous development of the baseball field demonstrates that the use of this area will be lost to the community. The baseball field is locked and run by an outside entity. No more pickup games so kids can gain an appreciation for the game, no more kids playing; just a padlock and a pretty field. There is no reason to believe that this will not happen to a commercial stadium. Many football boosters have stated there is no way four million will be spent on a stadium and it remain unlocked to be trashed. There is also no way that four million will be spent on a stadium and the ASD not attempt to make full commercial use of it. A few games will not cover the operating expense of such a capital investment. Operating costs will run a percentage of the capital cost and can be expected to be 10 to 100s of thousands annually. The ASD will be compelled to make full commercial use of this property to cover the large operation and maintenance cost. Even then, tickets cannot be expected to cover all the costs and the tax payers of Anchorage will cover it. There is no plan put forward by the ASD for stadium needs, how many, where, how to pay the expenses. ASD is not a competent commercial property organization. They have failed to even be able to place the hockey rink lights at South on a timer to manage electrical costs. Neither should thay be managing or subletting commercial property. This is a distraction to their mission - educating our children and raising good student athletes. | |
| Kiri Stilwell | 12/21/2012 9:43:27 AM |
| I support these football stadium upgrades. I think it is a great idea to have all the high school's have there own football stadium outfitted with lights and a scoreboard. These kids are working so hard, the least we can do is get out community together and provide these players with these amenities. | |
| Darin Anderson | 12/21/2012 9:08:36 AM |
| I support the football field project at South High School. I know that this will improve the community in South Anchorage. The facilities need to be completed so they can be utilized to their fullest potential. Thank you for approving this project. | |
| Dawn Knoblock | 12/21/2012 12:01:50 AM |
| As a Parent and South Anchorage resident I whole heartedly support the field improvements at South High School. This is more than just a field to the students, families, and future students of South Anchorage. By finishing this project that has already been funded by the state you are providing the students of South Anchorage High School with a “home” field in which to have varsity soccer, football, flag football, and track events on. These sports at present are forced to play at the Anchorage Football Stadium (which is condemned), or at a High School that has been lucky enough to have their home field completed. At present Dimond High School is the only school in Anchorage with a completed field, Service and South are very close. Palmer and Colony High school in the Valley also have finished home fields with Wasilla very close. All high schools should be able to have “home” games at home. It builds school and community spirit. “Spirit is an inanimate object that cannot be purchased, wrapped and given away as a gift, but rather occurs or develops naturally, as an instilled byproduct of authentic, genuine and spontaneous participation and involvement. Spirit requires individual commitment, leading to a cumulative effect to the finished product. Just as a medical or athletic team relies on the collective production of individually skilled squad members for optimal team performance, successful school-wide spirit counts on the contributions of all school constituents and community citizenry.” Dale Hierlmeier People opposed to the field improvements speak of light & noise pollution, as well as limited parking. We live in Alaska where it is light outside the entire summer. Is the light that comes through your windows from a street light also pollution? As far as the noise; the buzz of a scoreboard or cheer of a crowd would be a small interference in one’s daily routine. We live in a large city, where there are sounds all around us. I have been at many South High events and have never seen parking flowing out into the neighborhood streets. Here are 2 examples of very large sporting events held at South High School. On April 28th the Alaska Avalanche USA wrestling tournament had 500 + wrestlers in attendance, and two weeks ago South High School hosted the Alaska Duals wrestling tournament with 16 high schools in attendance. Each wrestler had family and friends that came to support them, and I never saw a problem with parking during either of these events. This project will benefit generations of students, families, and citizens of South Anchorage. Do not allow a small few ruin that for so many. | |
| David Andersen | 12/20/2012 3:54:27 PM |
| I am in support of the South Anchorage field improvement project. I had two sons graduate from South and both were in football and track. South really needs this improvement. I have no idea why anyone would oppose this project. The kids who practice on this field needs a good surface to be on. Thank you for approving it. | |
| Loree Jensen | 12/20/2012 3:03:29 PM |
| I am in favor of the improvements at SAHS for the football field. | |
| Richard Melms | 12/20/2012 1:46:43 PM |
| Pls have a representative from the MOA's HHS environmental department at your Jan 7 meeting. This person can speak from a scientific perspective on the effectiveness of the sound and light mitigation solutions proposed by ASD. A HHS representative spoke at your meeting concerning SAHS request to upgrade their baseball field. In essence he said that no matter how many trees ASD planted the sound and light pollution would not be materially diminished. He was asked to speak after the public comment period had ended so no follow up questions were permitted. Please have this person speak early in the discussion so that their comments can be fully explored. | |
| Bob Ottum | 12/20/2012 1:39:05 PM |
| I am hugely in favor of the field improvements for SAHS. This is an already funded project that will not require any new taxes. This gives South the ability to have home Varsity events and that Home field school spirit feeling that you can't get at another venue. It's creates character building good feelings that last a lifetime. I still remember the feeling of a home game and that's a part of High School, a part of growing up that every kid deserves to experience. The opponents to this act like they will live next to a new bar that is open until 4am with the rowdy crowds that go with it, it's absurd. High School events don't go that late at night and mostly are on Fridays or Saturdays also. To say there also isn't enough parking is ridiculous. South has hosted home Varsity sports events since the doors opened and parking hasn't overflowed into the streets for a Basketball or Volleyball game so why would anyone assume that parking would be a problem for Football or Soccer home games? Surely, no one claims one sport draws a crowd larger than another, that's silly to assume. It is the right thing to do to finish what has been started. All kids in all sports deserve the home field high school experience and not just the athletes but the student fans as well. | |
| Bob Ottum | 12/20/2012 1:36:04 PM |
| I am hugely in favor of the field improvements for SAHS. This is an already funded project that will not require any new taxes. This gives South the ability to have home Varsity events and that Home field school spirit feeling that you can't get at another venue. It's creates character building good feelings that last a lifetime. I still remember the feeling of a home game and that's a part of High School, a part of growing up that every kid deserves to experience. The opponents to this act like they will live next to a new bar that is open until 4am with the rowdy crowds that go with it, it's absurd. High School events don't go that late at night and mostly are on Fridays or Saturdays also. To say there also isn't enough parking is ridiculous. South has hosted home Varsity sports events since the doors opened and parking hasn't overflowed into the streets for a Basketball or Volleyball game so why would anyone assume that parking would be a problem for Football or Soccer home games? Surely, no one claims one sport draws a crowd larger than another, that's silly to assume. It is the right thing to do to finish what has been started. All kids in all sports deserve the home field high school experience and not just the athletes but the student fans as well. | |
| Wesley Chien | 12/20/2012 10:49:25 AM |
| As a committed athlete and a member of multiple South Anchorage High School sports teams, I fully support this. As for the complaints about there not being enough parking to support 1600 seats, many students car-pool and the adults that attend are generally families that will drive together. Most sporting events I have attended have been in groups of four or five sharing one car. That is not to say there won't be people driving alone, but for the most part the number of cars vs. attendance will not be a problem. In addition to this, there is a strong need for this field on the south side of Anchorage. The nearest fields used for ASD sporting events are Dimond High School and the Dome at Changepoint. Neither of these are conveniently located and it would be responsible from an environment standpoint (reduced vehicle emissions) and a safety standpoint (less possibility of car accidents) especially during soccer season where there is still ice and snow on the roads. Finally, there are many other benefits to this field. Those who argue against it are speaking in a selfish nature, they wish there "utopian" community to not be disturbed by the alleged terrors that come along with sporting events. I have spoken with adults near the Dimond High School field who have no such complaints after living nearby. In conclusion, it would be a mistake not to give the students of South Anchorage High School and the Anchorage School District the opportunities that will come along with this stadium. | |
| Robert Stanton | 12/18/2012 8:30:03 PM |
| I am a homeowner in Turnagain View Estates and my home borders the South Anchorage High School property, backing up to the track and field facilities approximately 100 feet away. The South High stadium concept has been pushed by a few avid boosters while, at the same time, there are well over 100 signatures on a petition in opposition from people that actually live in our subdivision. This application, from its inception, has been misleading as it implied that all buffering and audio visual requirements have been met and the public process has been completed. Nothing could be further from the truth. The school was initially approved and constructed with the football facility designated as "practice" only. We purchased our home prior to the school being built and relied on that being a true statement. The reason for the placement of that special limitation still exists to this day. The site is tightly surrounded by homes, it has less acreage than the normal requirement for a high school and overflow parking would undoubtedly encroach onto the surrounding subdivision streets. Noise from bleachers for 1600 fans, score board and stadium lighting and sound equipment would also have a detrimental impact on the neighborhood. It is hard to imagine a more ill-advised concept! The recently completed baseball field is now locked and no longer available for public use as I'm sure the football stadium and the track around it would be if it is allowed to go forward. Instead, it would be more practical for the Municipality to make the necessary improvements to the Anchorage Football Stadium, therefore benefitting all of the area schools and eliminating the redundancy and added maintenance costs of full football stadiums at each school. School District funding should be focused more on the classroom and less on inappropriate, ill-advised and expensive football stadiums. | |
| Kathleen Crow | 12/12/2012 3:36:58 PM |
| We have lived on Leyden Rd. since 1978. And if you ask the rest of the home owners along Leyden you will find that the homes built there were built 1978 or prior. We attended all the meetings prior to South High being built. The folks in McMahon Subdivision were very much involved. We all thought that we came to a reasonable resolution of shared spaces........and we all could live as good neighbors. The on going noise factor from the school has made us rethink our positive attitude. Be it dumpsters being emptied or the parking cleared - getting to sleep some nights are questionable. Even the generator and fans which face our subdivision make loud noise. To add more sports facilities to this school.....and to find some place for the parking for "1600" seems ill advised. Perhaps adding to Service High where there is more room for expansion would be a better option. We appreciate the fact that the schools need sports sites.........however, the confined space for this school does not make it a good choice. | |
| Richard Melms | 12/11/2012 8:42:34 PM |
| There is inadequate parking at the school for this expansion they are requesting. The other issues include increased noise and light pollution that go along with the activities, scoreboard, public announcing system, and field lighting requested. A MUNI representative at the last Zoning meeting I attended said that the efforts made by ASD to mitigate the noise and light pollution, i.e. planting a few trees, will do little if anything to alleviate the impact of the proposed additions on the surrounding neighborhoods. This information was ignored by the Zoning committee that evening. One Zoning committee member, he sat on the far left when viewed from the audience seating, said something to the effect that "the people living around the school all built their homes after the school was built so they should have known the neighborhood would be noisy". In fact many of us built our homes long before the school. My wife and I built our home in 1977 when Elmore was called Bragaw, it was gravel, and it ended at Leyden Road. As it turns out the school has been a relatively good neighbor. Both of our sons attended Service High. One played hockey and the other skied. We are not opposed to sports. We are obviously concerned about the continued expansion of the facilities at SAHS. First it was the baseball field and its impact. Now the petition to expand the football field. I ask you to carefully consider the impact on the surrounding neighborhoods when making your decision. | |
| Cornelius Eastman | 12/10/2012 7:17:11 PM |
| There is not enough parking to support 1600 seats. There is barely enough parking for 400. | |