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used as irrigation water. This collection system has been the source of awards and <br />distinction the City of St. Anthony is very proud of - illustrating the commitment to <br />environmental stewardship in our community. <br />The soccer field renovations will make usable space that is underutilized, but is <br />consistent with the overall usage of the Wilshire Park property. The re -orientation of <br />the tee-ball/softball field is appropriate for the site and may provide the ability for <br />spectators to sit on a hill behind the backstop to watch the game. The re -grading will <br />not substantially affect any environmental condition not already present on the <br />property. While the re -grading of the Wilshire Park property may result in the loss of <br />two trees, each of the possible removed trees are ash trees, which are likely to be <br />removed in the future because of the concern over the Emerald Ash Borer's effect on <br />these trees. These trees would be replaced in a near -by location on the Wilshire Park <br />property. The chain-link fence would stop only unauthorized human access to the <br />property, and, since the area is not rural in nature, there is no concern about any <br />disruption of animal behavior. Further, since the Wilshire Park facility will have no <br />lighted fields, and the proposed use is consistent with the current use, there is little <br />concern about neighborhood opposition to the project on the basis of any <br />environmental impact. The soccer field renovations will also include the addition of <br />an irrigation system, enabling a healthy turf that will withstand the heavy use of the <br />facility. <br />COMPREHENSIVE PLAN COMPATIBILITY <br />The entirety of Central Park and Wilshire Park is zoned a Recreational/ Open Space <br />zoning classification by the City of St. Anthony, and, as mentioned herein, as <br />traditionally been used as a recreational park for the schools and residents of St. <br />Anthony Village. The proposed Project would not change the customary use of the <br />Park, but would allow for expanded use of the limited parkspace available for youth <br />sports. As mentioned, St. Anthony is entirely developed and there is no other room to <br />expand youth athletic facilities. Central Park encompasses the bulk of athletic amenities <br />for the City, and no other park space currently in St. Anthony can be retrofitted for <br />Project -like improvements without substantial costs and changes in the landform. The <br />Wilshire Park portion of the project exemplifies this reality as to how a renovation must <br />occur to be effective. <br />The Project is, in part, a modernizing of the existing use—using technology to update <br />the current facility without changing the purpose of the Park—instead allowing for <br />expanded use of the facility. TSD #282, in its renovation of the fields, acknowledged the <br />multi -use responsibility by implementing a new technology of removable football <br />42 <br />