Primo Sports wants Chester site
By Edie Johnson
CHESTER — Residents packed Chester Town Hall last week to hear about Primo Sports' plan to open a $10.6 million sports complex on Route 94.
The facility, to be from 250,000 to 300,000 square feet, will offer sports both outdoors and indoors, where children will practice year-round under the watchful eye of coaches. The facility would be located on Route 94 between the Tetz Industrial Park entrance and Glenmere Road.
Many at the public hearing said they were thrilled that another skilled recreational facility is coming to town. Others, especially neighbors nearest to the site, expressed concerns about the environmental impact of such a large project in a residential and farming area, and increased traffic on the highway.
This is the area's second Primo Sports facility. Jim Lagarde and Luca Spensieri established the first one in Goshen in 2007. Lagarde is a former soccer coach from Burke Catholic High School who went on to obtain international certification. Spensieri is a semi-retired developer who fell in love with the sport along with his son, Luca Jr.
But the owners say they've outgrown their Goshen facility. There's no room to expand at the site, located on Route 17A near the Goshen-Florida border. That facility will close if the Chester project is approved.
Primo Sports has a large following. Participants are dedicated not only to the program but to Lagarde and his team of coaches. The Goshen facility offers 11 different activities, including basketball, field hockey, baseball, lacrosse, and soccer, along with summer camp and rec and teen nights. The group includes children with disabilities and has partnered with Florida and Warwick to raise funds for charity.
Supporters came to the Chester hearing to sing Primo's praises, including a Florida official who said his village is grateful for the sports opportunities their children might not otherwise have.
But with five large sports facilities in the area, in addition to recreational programs offered by towns and schools, some wonder if this complex is really needed. A number of residents praised the project but said it was wrong for the site. One neighbor, who said his family has farmed their property for seven generations, is worried about the LED lights that will be perched on 70- to 75-foot poles to illuminate fields, and the screams of children playing at night. He wondered whether he will ever be able to open his windows on a fresh spring evening again.
The facility plans to close by 11 p.m. on most nights. Neighbors suggested an earlier closing time.
The town would have to override a county recommendation to lower the height of the light poles. But the project’s lighting expert said that the higher the pole, the easier it is to direct the light.
Another neighbor said the drainage plans could harm his nearby septic system.
"If my well gets contaminated, they are going to foot the bill," he said.
He also wanted the promise of a tree maintenance agreement for a promised buffer. "If anything happens with the trees, they need to be replaced," he said. "They never did that at Unilock. I'm not against this, but you have got to work with me."
But residents were mostly happy about the prospect of more soccer and baseball fields in town. The popular coach's friends and customers said, "Jim Lagarde is a 'stand up' man. I trust him with my daughter." Another said, "I trust him with my son, I trust him with my life."
An attorney for Lagarde he too had feared for his peace and quiet when Primo Sports was built next door to his home.
"Now he's my best friend," he said. "He will do right by you."
Why did ZBA reverse course?Some residents said they were concerned about how the town is handling the project. After appearing before the Zoning Board of Appeals to get a variance because of the size of the project, the owners came back a second time. After a closed executive session, the residents said, the ZBA changed its mind, telling the developer to go ahead — and they want to know why.
Town engineer Al Fusco said he has requested documentation pertaining to the variance.
Residents also expressed doubt about the project's tax status. Spensieri has applied for tax relief to the Orange County Industrial Development Agency (IDA). The owners say the number of jobs the Chester complex will offer, and the businesses it will attract, will more than offset the breaks they are requesting. They expect the project to bring in at least 15 permanent jobs and 67 temporary construction jobs.
The IDA is expected to make a decision sometime in the next month, when the town will decide whether to approve the project.
Because of the widespread public interest, the town will keep the hearing open until its next meeting on May 20. Written comments will also be accepted during that time.