Town wary of college ‘creep’

Wenham town officials are calling for more open dialogue between the town and its biggest resident, Gordon College.

Town Administrator Jeffrey Chelgren has requested a meeting to talk about the future relationship between the town and school, particularly regarding the school’s contributions to the town.

This request comes on the heels of the near completion of a now four-year-long athletic complex project on the land between Grapevine Road and Hull Street.

“We need to be participants in this in a financial way,” Planning Board Chairman David Geikie, said.

The fields have been dug and laid out, and plans for a facility on the grounds have been approved. But last week, project supervisors from the college went before the Planning Board asking for the approval of a “slightly bigger” building to complement the fields, which are already in use. The building would not only house offices for coaches and boys and girls lockers, but also a balance and mobility center and a day-care facility.

Chelgren and the Planning Board expressed concern in the “creeping” movement of the college over the years and the fear that the college may be moving ahead without the town in tow.

“We are falling into a pattern,” Chelgren said. “I feel lucky to have Gordon College in town, however, the town needs to be a stronger player.

“There is a creep,” he said, asking about the schools ultimate goal.

Daniel Tymann, Gordon College executive vice president for Advancement, Communications and Technology, said the school does have a master plan, which is now nearing the end.

“We are now looking to the next five years,” he said, adding the college plans to continue to build programs, eventually replace dormitories and make other changes to make the college what it should be.

Geikie agreed that there has been a creeping motion over the years, and it is even more apparent with this project. He said four years ago, the perception was the athletic field would be used only during the daytime for the academic year only. But in reality, the fields are used year-round by summer camps and other schools.

However, Geikie noted how pleased he was with the “wonderful job” the college has done on its campus.

“I see it having a significant future as a educational institution,” he said.

“We feel the town’s relationship (with Gordon College) has been very pleasant, and all concerns have been addressed,” he said. But, “our concerns are growing faster than yours. We are cash strapped. We need contributions.”

Tymann said the college would be looking into that issue and would be willing to look at the current relationship between the school and town, and discussing a new agreement.

“It is certainly a reasonable request,” he said.

Parking troubles

The request for a larger building also comes amid more complaints from Hull Street residents over noise and light pollution, as well as parking and traffic congestion. When the project was first proposed in 2003, concerned residents packed public meetings. In the wake of the more recent addition of the stadium lights, a few residents went before the Board of Selectmen last month to voice frustrations.

At last week’s Planning Board meeting, members Virginia Rogers and Gretchen Roorbach####  echoed concerns of the “constant stream of traffic” on Hull Street and the regular on-street parking by guests of the fields.

“I am very concerned with the impact of traffic,” Rogers said.

Roorbach asked that a traffic study be done of the area, an idea that was favorably by the board and school officials.

“I agree we should look at traffic,” Tymann said.

The parking lot on the property holds 78 spaces, five handicapped spaces and four large bus spaces, Helgesen said.

Chelgren said the selectmen, in hearing the complaints of residents, are concerned that if residents are experiencing increased traffic and light intrusion now, a building on the site will only exacerbate the problem.

“The Board of Selectmen are concerned with the future development of the building,” he said, asking the Planning Board to hold off a decision on the building expansion until after a separate meeting between parties can be held.

Gordon College Physical Plant Director Paul Helgesen said the revised proposal for the athletic building is about 20 percent bigger than the original two-story building and includes 6,400 square feet for the center and 4,200 square feet for the day care.

A decision on the building expansion was delayed until next month, while a meeting with school and town officials is being planned for sometime in the interim.