Clinton council hears proposal for phased field house at high school; council approves concept to proceed to planning

Josh Reed, speaking for Clinton High School, asked the Clinton City Council to allow a phased field house and locker-room building at the football stadium to improve crowd flow and safety.

Reed said the present setup forces home and visiting teams into the same cramped area. "It's dangerous having a 100 kids trying to pour through that," he said, adding that the new facility would serve high school teams, middle school teams and youth leagues from a site he gave as 425 Dragon Drive. Reed said the project would be phased, with the initial goal to have the shell and plumbing roughed in so teams could use the space next season, and that interior finish work would come later. He also said funding was not secured and that the project would rely primarily on donors: "I do not have any funding secured for the construction of it yet."

City staff confirmed the project would require planning commission review, building permits and the usual inspections; staff estimated the overall project could reach about $5,600,000 and reiterated that planning and, if needed, BZA review would be required before construction. Council discussion focused on design, use during off-season (soccer and girls flag football), dressing up or remodeling the existing visitor locker room and protecting officials on game nights.

A motion to approve proceeding with the concept (motion by Councilman Harold, second by Councilman Munoz) was moved and approved by voice vote. The council’s action authorized staff to accept the concept and to continue the formal review process; any construction still requires completed plans, permits, planning commission and building inspections and confirmed funding.

Next steps: staff will work with Reed and city planning and building officials to place formal zoning/plan review items on planning commission agendas and to identify required permits and inspections.