Politics & Government
Green Park Turns Down Expansion Plan for Sports Training Facility
In tie-breaking vote, mayor says the businesses location in an industrial park requires a further review of the city's comprehensive plan for the area.
Green Park Mayor Tony Konopka voted down a request to expand a youth sports training facility located in the city’s industrial park, citing its conflict with the municipality’s comprehensive plan.
The development plan for the Budrovich Indoor Training Facility went before the at its regular meeting Monday night and split the city’s representatives with three for and three against. The tie called for Konopka to step in and cast the deciding vote.
“I want to run this through planning and zoning to see if changes need to be made to the comprehensive plan to accommodate this kind of use,” Konopka said. “Originally, all they talked about was having a few batting cages. It just seems like it’s getting bigger and bigger.”
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The proposed plan would double the size of the facility, which is located in a large industrial building, and add several new courts that could be used for volleyball and basketball.
The issues raised by Konopka stem from its location in an area reserved for light industrial use. Green Park attorney Paul Rost said the area’s zoning classification was changed to accommodate sports training, but the increased traffic of students and parents could attract commercial ventures to the city’s industrial park.
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“If it’s going to start to now have restaurants, that type of thing, and switch to bringing a more retail-type customer in… Maybe that’s something we need to look at overall,” Rost said.
However, holding up the growth of a local business didn’t sit well with Ward 2 Alderman Tim Thuston.
“Isn’t that a good thing?” he asked. “Don’t we want them to be successful?”
Thuston was joined by Ward 2 Alderwoman Jackie Wilson and Ward 1 Alderwoman Carol Hamilton in supporting Budrovich’s expansion with Ward 3 Alderman Fred Baras, Ward 1 Alderman Anthony Pousosa and Ward 3 Alderman Joe Monteleone against it.
The rejection means the petition is kicked back to the planning and zoning commission, which will review whether changes need to be made to Green Park’s comprehensive development plan, Rost said. The document provides guidelines for the city’s growth by defining areas for different types of business, industrial and residential development.
Konopka urged anyone with an interest in the industrial park’s future to contact the City of Green Park at (314) 894-7337 for more information.