Koret Field Appeal on City Council Agenda, Again

After dozens of speakers  on Oct. 26 in response to a neighborhood group's appeal to limit the hours and use of 's Koret Field, the item will be up for debate again on Tuesday.

The filled-to-capacity meeting last month prompted the City Council to postpone its decision on the appeal to give them sufficient time in deliberating the issues of noise and hours the field is in use.

The years-long squabble over the operating hours and usage of the sports field escalated when the city's Planning Commission approved the school's plan in September to increase the number of hours the field would be used, and open the field to additional youth soccer groups from outside of the city.

Residents who live in the neighborhood adjacent to the field say the noise from the field is already unbearable and additional use would only exacerbate the disruption.

The school and its supporters argue there is a shortage of fields available in Belmont on which children can play and practice, and steps have been taken to mitigate the noise, which is within the allowable decibel limits.

The school's plan includes lengthening the hours of operation Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. instead of the current stop time of "dusk." It also includes adding weekend hours on both Saturday and Sunday. The current weekend use is limited to occasional Sunday games. The school also wants to open up the use of the field to youth soccer leagues who rail against a shortage of fields in the area.

Community members will have an opportunity to speak at Tuesday's meeting. The meeting is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers at , located at 1 Twin Pines Lane.