Dearborn Plan Commission Approves Expansion of Divine Child Athletic Facilities
Despite resident-voiced concern, the Catholic high school got the green light to move forward with a project that will enhance and enlarge their football and track field.
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Plans to expand athletic facilities at Divine Child High School were approved Monday by the Dearborn City Plan Commission, but not without debate from nearby residents.
According to the City Plan Department, the Catholic school in west Dearborn came before the commission in 1997 and had a site plan approved. But improvements the school hopes to have in place by the fall of 2013 required a Special Land Use approval.
Those plans include the expansion and shifting of the school’s athletic fields; adding two lanes to the outdoor track; adding bleachers to both sides; and building several small outdoor structures to be used for team meetings, storage and concessions.
The biggest of those changes–expanding the field–would allow the school to hold all its home football games in that space. Currently, most varsity games take place on Crestwood High School’s field in Dearborn Heights.
But it’s just that change that had several residents stepping forward against the expansion.
Frank Guido, chair of DC’s Field Development Committee and president of the Parish Council, explained that the changes would help the school–and parish–grow.
“We’re down to one (Catholic) high school in this community,” he said. “We want to remain viable and we want to continue to grow and be positive influence in neighborhood and in the community. We need to grow. This is very material to our survival where we are at.”
Residents of the area expressed concern over the extra noise and traffic issues that the expansion could create.
“We’re very concerned about the proposed changes,” said Roger Park, a resident of Nightingale Street.
Among his and his wife’s concerns are increased foot and vehicle traffic, parking, privacy, and lighting.
“This is more than a modification; It’s a huge expansion,” Park added. “Divine Child has been a great neighbor … but I think this is a little over the top.”
Guido maintained that the fields and their use would be no different than any of Dearborn’s three public high schools.
Sam Salame, also a resident of Nightingale and a former resident of the area near Fordson High, said that when that school upgraded their fields for football, “There was a lot more traffic, a lot more speeding, and fights.”
“They’re high school kids,” he added. “That’s how high school kids act.”
Several neighbors said they were concerned about kids and parents disrupting the neighborhood during sporting events with speeding, parking in neighborhoods, and disrupting the area
Guido assured that “If there’s ever a concern from a neighbor, Divine Child will take care of the problem.”
However, he added that his purpose before the commission was not to debate with residents, so long as what the school is planning is within the scope of the law.
Commission Chair Gary Errigo agreed, and suggested to residents that if they didn’t want to deal with the issues of living near a high school, they should have chosen to live elsewhere.
The plan passed unanimously.
Guido assured residents–and the commission–that DC has always been, and will continue to be a good neighbor.
“This is an enhancement that will be a benefit to all individuals in that neighborhood,” he said. “This strengthens a school in that area, so it certainly could not be considered in a negative way.”
DC will undertake a major fundraising effort to help pay for the updates. Guido said they hope to break ground next spring and reopen the field in the fall of 2013.
John Orischak
8:51 am on Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Is the Sam Salamey in this article, the same person running for judge?? I hope not.
His strereotypical comments about “They’re high school kids,” he added. “That’s how high school kids act.” This is a person wanting be be voted in as a judge?
He already made up his mind about the field even before one shovel has been turned. This type of comment concerns me about a person who is supposed to be open minded and non-biased. I hope the other judges running pick up on this concerning type of thinking and support the field, not condemn it because of biased opinions.
By the way Sam, Divine Child school prides itself on the behavior of its students. Don't assume they will behave badly. Can you site incidents specifically to back up your opiniion about Divine Child High School students behavior??
R. EALLY
10:01 am on Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Right John...like DC kids and parents are any different...NOT!! You should have been at the DC hockey games the last 4 years... the kids and parents were more obnoxious and rude than any other fans I have encountered in watching 16 years of kids hockey.... I don't assume..I know they will have the same over the top attitude and obnoxious behavior exhibited by the DC people in the past.... DC kids and parents are not more well behaved that any other high school in Dearborn...actually they are actually worse since they think they are better than everyone else. Another example was the city tournament for baseball in which the DC "hall of fame" coach exhibited the worst, most unprofessional behavior that I have ever seen in my life by any coach... I was embarrased for the city of Dearborn...DC.... not so much embarrased for them, because thats what I expect from people with a sense of entitlement and superiority
James
11:09 am on Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Same guy. Lives just off Silvery Lane.
HMS
10:39 am on Tuesday, July 10, 2012
John, the Sam Salame in the article is not the same person running for judge. We don't deny that the students at DC (like the other area high schools) are exceptional. However, they are teenagers. They will from time to time act out. It is only normal. I do have multiple incidents that have occurred. However, I don't feel that they need to be itemized as a rebuttal to you. Everybody wants to see the school succeed. We just want to make sure that the school and neighborhood are ready to deal with any issues that may arise from this expansion. You shouldn't make assumptions on a person's character based on one quote that is published in an article. You obviously were not at the meeting and did not know what was discussed with the neighbors. We have valid concerns. We all want to see the school improve the facilities. We just want to make sure that there is a plan in place to handle the increased traffic in the area. I have lived next a football field for over 20 years. I know from experience what to expect. I enjoy watching the games and will support the DC teams as well.
We were given a platform to voice our concerns and that is what we did. Nobody is asking them not to build the field. We just want it done properly.
As an FYI, the Sam Salamey running for judge is very open minded. I think he is a good choice for the city and will hopefully bring back integrity to the courts.
kamal
10:41 am on Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Maybe the school should invest in a parking lot instead so they stop using city parking that we taxpayers pay for, i am speaking about the levagood parking lot that is used by the school
Jessica Carreras
11:33 am on Tuesday, July 10, 2012
No, it is NOT the same Sam Salamey who is running for judge. My apologies for the possible misspelling of this resident's name. I was not able to verify his name after the meeting as many of the residents speaking on the issue left.
Kelvin Morris
12:45 pm on Tuesday, July 10, 2012
I am glad that you clarified this. I met the Sam who is running for judge the last time that he ran for judge and he impressed me as a good candidate for judge. I believe he lives on Marshall.
HMS
1:10 pm on Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Jessica, I responded under HMS. I am Sam Salame that attended the meeting.
Jessica Carreras
1:23 pm on Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Thank you, (the real) Sam Salame, for clarifying this. I have corrected the spelling of your name in the article as well.
L. Niniowsky
12:53 pm on Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Also concerning to the neighbors at the meeting:
1) DC did nothing to work with neighbors in the immediate area ahead of time. There were no meetings, no prior notice, only a postcard sent by the Planning Commission that there was a public hearing. DC admitted trying to reach one neighbor in the area and that was only at the city's request. When speaking to Frank Guido after the meeting, he said it was discussed at the Parish Council meetings and the minutes were available. Where? I don't see them posted online. This couldn't have been mentioned in the church bulletin that everyone reads? I saw no mention of this in the 2011-2013 Parish Pastoral Plan. I can't help but feel the Church was deceptive and underhanded. Why was there a need to blindside everyone?
2) The information was presented by Frank Guido, president of Parish Council who responded to remarks by the residents with disdain and arrogance. At one point he was reminded by a member of the planning commission that these concerns were legitimate concerns. I did not appreciate Mr. Guido mentioning that he was not interested in a "group therapy scenario" and was not going to "sit down and negotiate with the neighbors, as they are only concerned with the parish members". Excuse me, Mr. Guido, but several of us are parish members and that was insulting. Are we truly supposed to feel that DC will act on our concerns in the future when they were treated with such disdain at the meeting?
Tamara Marie
4:39 pm on Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Gary Errigo is right! Residents complaining should have chosen to live elsewhere. When Dearborn High built their new football/soccer field, some residents went crazy complaining about the noise during games and that the PA system was too loud! Crazy! That is what makes a neighborhood near a school...Friday night football games where kids are on the field and off the streets...blare that PA and enjoy the games. School athletics is a positive...EXPAND DC, EXPAND!!!
John
1:39 pm on Wednesday, July 11, 2012
As a former student at the high school and former football coach for DC, I am surprised to hear about the expansion. Father K was always very vocal about not doing something like this.
Dianne
10:07 pm on Wednesday, July 11, 2012
I can't speak for what it will be like at DC, but I live on South York, within two blocks of Dearborn High. Home football games happen fewer than 10 times in a year. Additionally, half of the games are in October when my windows are already closed and the noise is barely audible. I have never been more than very mildly inconvenienced by football games, we really enjoy the homecoming parades (even though my kids go to DC) and the additional traffic by school events rarely (if ever) causes us problems.
It is so disappointing to watch the incivility that goes back and forth in these blogs. We are all residents of the Dearborn community and instead of calling each other names (like "people with a sense of entitlement and superiority"), perhaps we should stand together as neighbors and support each other.
Puzzled
12:32 am on Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Really Gary, residents should have chosen to live elsewhere? When they moved in 20 years ago why would they think DC or anyone could EXPAND without communication with neighbors on the nearby streets? How could anyone predict an expansion could get rammed through the planning commission in 2012 without community input? Given Gary's comment, we shouldn't be surprised when the "for sale" signs go up in this area.