As outlined in a Brentwood Home Page story last week, the private school plans to expand the stadium complex to the south and west, replacing natural grass with synthetic turf, increasing the width for soccer, widening the track to eight lanes, and adding new concession-restroom facilities. Seating would be increased from 2,500 to 3,000 and new lighting and new scoreboards are also included in the plans.

David Minnigan, with Earl Swensson Associates, Inc. addressed the commission and introduced several others present on behalf of the school or involved in the project. They included Assistant Headmaster Ray Mullican.

Commissioners had several questions on the plan. Neal McBrayer asked about the change to an artificial surface. Minnigan explained that "a lot of schools are doing this," calling it "the new norm." A primary advantage is the ability to use the field for multiple sports and to get more use throughout the year, especially in inclement weather.

Carol Crigger asked about the new lighting system and if there had been any feedback from neighbors on the proposal.

"None of the folks that either have responded or who have come to us have had an issue with that," Minnigan said, who noted that neighbors and the greater BA school community were not aware of the proposal until Friday's story.

"We sent out a notice and had a meeting on Sunday," Minnigan said. Longtime BA neighbor Maggie Speight, who attended Monday night's meeting, said afterward that she was the only neighbor who attended.

Minnigan told the commissioners that the school had received notes from representatives of the Landmark and River Oaks Homeowners Association "that they were supporting this project."

With the expansion of the stadium to seat an additional 500 people, Mark Gorman had questions on parking.

First, Minnigan said move to expand the stadium should not be taken as any indication that the school plans to move to a different league or classification.

"The reality is the people that have been coming are already there. There likely will be no more cars. There likely will be no more people; it's just that those people have no place to sit," Minnigan said.

City Planning Director Jeff Dobson noted that the city's parking calculations that determine the number of required parking places is based on the number of students attending a school, not the number of people attending special events.

Commission chair Randy Campbell asked if the school's stakeholders support the project.

"There's no disagreement internally and on the board," answered Mullican, but he did admit, "I had a lot of questions at the football game Friday night" after BHP's story was posted.

Mullican told the board that the delay in announcing the plan to the general school community was due to an effort to package a capital campaign with other internal improvements that don't require approval from the city. BA wanted to make sure the stadium project was a go before launching the campaign.

In other action, the commission unanimously approved the consent agenda, which included:

• Minor revisions to the final plat for Lot 310 and Open Space 55 in the Governors Club, Phase 9-A, zoning ORSD.
• Final plat of Tuscany Hills, Section 3
• Three Hillside Protection Site Plans in the Windstone development, two homesites and a townhome elevation review.