Neighbor presses Cornwall board for noise, light and drainage mitigation as multisport facility nears completion

A Shadowwood Lane resident urged the Cornwall Central School District Board of Education on June 16 to provide a written mitigation plan for a new multisport facility adjacent to her property.

Kelly Cassie, who lives "right next door to the high school property," said neighbors have repeatedly asked the district for measures to reduce noise, light intrusion and runoff. "We requested a sound wall to block the undoubtedly very noisy games from the bleachers that are sited 10 feet off of our property," she told the board. Cassie said she and neighbors met with district representatives in January and were told they would be included in planning for mitigation, but that follow-up by email in April found "no progress in making a plan to address and mitigate our concerns."

Cassie said turf and fencing work has advanced and that "it's clear that we're at the point where screening trees could be installed," but that no plan for a sound wall, tree screening or drainage fixes had been shared. She asked the board, "At what point in time are you going to be addressing our concerns as neighbors?" The board acknowledged the comment and said it would be part of the public record.

Context: Cassie identified district staff she had met with in January, including the superintendent and facilities staff, and said construction completion is scheduled for August. The public comment did not result in an immediate action vote; board members and staff later discussed facilities planning and the related capital project in their agenda.