Lebanon Plan Commission approves development plan for 33,000 sq ft field house at high school

Lebanon Plan Commission — The Lebanon Plan Commission voted to approve a development plan for a new field house at Lebanon High School after a public hearing that drew one nearby resident to express concerns about noise, traffic and drainage.

The plan approved Wednesday covers an approximately 33,000-square-foot field house sited behind the existing high school near adjacent residential lots; the proposed top height is a little over 31 feet. The commission’s approval was conditioned on the applicant addressing any remaining city Technical Advisory Committee comments and on submitting a final lighting and photometric plan for staff review prior to applying for building permits.

Ben (planning staff) presented the proposal and described the site and scope: "This is an approximately 33,000 square foot sports field house facility," he said, and he noted the building "would also include a new entrance and walkways to the football field." He told commissioners that the development would not add parking and that the existing lots will accommodate demand.

Bob, an architect with Ross Fishman Associates representing the school, said the field house is intended primarily for student physical education and practice use and described interior features: "It is 3 sport courts. There will be some batting cages, drop down volleyball nets... but it is a gym primarily for the students during PE." He also said one court would be used for band practice and that the building will meet energy code and be insulated to reduce sound.

During public comment, Don Anderson, a Yulin Drive resident, urged the commission to consider neighborhood impacts including noise from band practice, traffic and drainage. "There's a lot of concerns," Anderson said, citing frequent band practices and parked cars on nearby streets. The applicant and staff described the proposal as mostly for student use and said occasional weekend events were possible but not the primary plan.

Staff and the applicant discussed utilities and drainage. Ben and the architect said several utility relocations remain to be resolved and that a regulated drain crossing the site will need rerouting; the applicant said they will detain runoff to meet the city's standards for added acreage. Ben noted the reroute involves coordination with county authorities because the drain is county-regulated.

Commissioners asked about interior seating and use for tournaments; the applicant said the building will not contain large tip-and-roll bleachers like the main gym and that the primary function is PE and practice. Commissioners also asked whether the new structure might reduce noise from the field on nearby houses; staff said the building could act as a buffer for field noise but would not address all band-practice locations.

The commission’s motion to approve, made and seconded by commissioners on the record, passed by voice vote. The approval was explicit that remaining Technical Advisory Committee comments must be addressed and that a final lighting and photometric plan be submitted to staff for approval before any permits are issued.

The commission acknowledged the public comments and closed the public hearing before taking the vote. The applicant must return to staff with final technical responses and the lighting plan prior to building-permit application.