RFC, Inc's Letter to TU Regarding Softball Fields

About a month ago, in conjunction with a team of residents in the Stanmore Rd corridor, RFC, Inc sent out a letter to TU leaders and local politicians letting them know that we opposed the current plan of the softball field renovations adjacent to those Stanmore Rd residents' homes.

Here's the text of that letter:

Dr. Maravene S. Loeschke
President, Towson University
Administration Building, Room 331
8000 York Road
Towson, MD 21252

Dr. Loeschke:    

     The Rodgers Forge community is extremely disappointed with Towson University’s decision not to move the proposed women’s softball facility to a location that would eliminate the negative effects of the field on our neighborhood. We believe this decision shows a lack of respect for your neighbors – namely our residents (especially children, who may be injured by large softballs flying into our neighborhood without warning) and our property (including the effects of night-time lighting).

     We acknowledge that TU has addressed some of our concerns. We further acknowledge your willingness to meet with us to discuss the ways in which we believe TU is not adhering to the existing Memorandum of Understanding. While these were positive steps, the university has not been responsive to our concerns and continues insist on developing property adjacent to our neighborhood, thereby increasing the likelihood of ongoing and future conflict.

     Relocating the facility to the interior of TU’s property would eliminate our objections to the new field. We have identified a reasonable and feasible alternative. At the same time, we believe that the university exaggerated the cost of relocating the field and included in this amount normal repair items. We are also disappointed that TU did not consider other means of funding (such as those used for the new arena and other campus projects) to accommodate our request.

     We understand that lights are part of an NCAA-compliant field and we would welcome them if they were located a sufficient distance from our residential neighborhood not to generate light pollution at our homes. We are disappointed that TU did not address this concern as the design moved from 60% to 90% complete this spring. The state legislature made funding available for three years to complete this project, acknowledging its complexity, and we contend that the fast pace of the project is entirely unnecessary, especially considering the community opposition.

      The Rodgers Forge community would be excited to support TU women’s softball program if doing so did not foist upon us these significant burdens. Because of these negative effects, the Rodgers Forge Community Association unequivocally opposes this project in its current form, and we will continue to oppose it by any available means.

     We respectfully call on TU to stop all planning and construction activities immediately and
postpone any further action on the existing field for one year, and slow down the project until
such time as we are able to find mutually agreeable solutions.

Sincerely,
Stuart Sirota, President
Rodgers Forge Community Association

cc: Dr. William E. Kirwan, Chancellor and Chief Executive Officer, University System of
Maryland