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Stadium plans raise concerns
Plans for SCSU's multi-purpose stadium and accompanying recreation center have raised concerns in the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources because of their proximity to the banks of the Mississippi River.
The land between the river and Halenbeck Hall, where the stadium and recreation center will go, is protected by Minnesota's Wild and Scenic Rivers program, as well as the city's scenic river ordinance. After initial concerns were expressed last month, representatives from both the DNR and SCSU have said that most of the issues will be resolved, and that plans for the project at that site will continue.
"We have been working on the concerns over the scenic river ordinance, and its been cooperative and successful so far," said Dan Lais, DNR Division of Water representative, and chief liaison in the stadium project. "I think we have things headed in the right direction."
Initial plans for the $9.7 million stadium conflicted with city ordinances in the height of the structure, its distance from the river, and the amount of impervious surface on the lot, such as blacktop, parking lots and concrete.
"I think that SCSU is going to be able to meet all of the requirements except the height issue," Lais said.
Lais said that SCSU will have a difficult time keeping the height of the stadium under the 35 foot minimum called for by the ordinance.
"Right now, I think the school will end up having a structure over 35 feet tall, but that won't stop the stadium from being built," he said.
Steve Ludwig, vice president for administrative affairs at SCSU, echoed Lais' sentiments that the relationship between SCSU and the DNR has been both cooperative and successful, and will end up yielding results favorable to both parties.
Both Ludwig and Lais said that they are working on alternatives to meeting the height requirement which would honor the spirit of the ordinance.
"We agree in concept with the ordinance," said Ludwig. "This is not a formal, complaint-and-response type of process. There is some give and take, and cooperation."
Lais said the alternatives being explored are part of an effort to offset the height requirements.
"SCSU has looked at options to offset (the height requirements), like lighting, brush, and distance from the river," he said. "We are looking at things that meet the intent (of the ordinance)," he commented.
According to the ordinance, a corner of the National Hockey Center actually impedes on protected land, and there are power stations and a hydroelectric dam in the immediate area.
"I'm not going to come in here and say 'tear it (the National Hockey Center) down' because of a little corner. That's not the spirit of things here," Lais said. "I am also aware of the other obstructions (like the dam and power stations), and it's not like I'm going to demand these things be removed."
Lais echoed statements he made to the St. Cloud Times last month that the DNR was trying to be "somewhat common sense-oriented."
Campus Recreation Director, Ron Seibring, who has been going over prospective plans with an architect, said that the DNR's concerns won't slow down the process.
"(The DNR's concerns) may effect the actual design of the stadium, but they haven't slowed down the process."
Seibring added that since there are no finalized stadium plans at this point, concerns can be dealt with.
Lais also made it clear that the DNR is not in a position of direct oversight and will not be dictating the terms of the project.
"SCSU is going to stand on its own two feet on this," he said, "and they have put their best foot forward."
Ludwig said that the school has decided the recreation center and the stadium will be linked together as one project, and that the budget in place, funded in part by a raise in student fees in the fall, will hold. Ludwig said that the stadium should be up and running by fall, 2004.
SCSU students voted Nov. 19 and 20 to approve a $16 million bond to help pay for three projects to improve the campus.
Of this amount, $5 million would be used to renovate Atwood Memorial Center, $5 million would go toward helping pay for the stadium, while remainder would pay for the recreation center. Students also voted to build a separate recreation center near the Halenbeck Fieldhouse instead of renovating the present fitness center at Eastman Hall.
A further $4.7 million, to be used to pay the remaining cost for the stadium, was received from the state government some time back.
The multipurpose stadium complex will be a lighted facility with a new type of synthetic turf resembling grass and is not as hard as other synthetic turfs.
Plans are also in the pipelines for a seasonal dome to be put over the stadium. It will be inflatable so it can be used during the winter and removed during more temperate weather.
The dome will allow the stadium to be used all year round. At present, most outdoor sports and intramural activities have to be crammed into the months before the first snowfall during fall semester. Also, some sports, such as cricket and indoor soccer, can only be played late at night, ending in the early hours of the morning, as other higher priority sports teams use the fieldhouse for practice.
With the approval of the bond, student activity fees are set to go up starting fall semester, 2002, with yearly increases totalling a maximum of $4.50 a credit to a maximum of 12 credits by the end of 2005.
Currently, students pay $15.66 a credit hour to a maximum of 12 credits per semester.
Jake Zisla can be reached at: [email protected]
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