Atherton: Noisy sports pique Menlo College neighbors Atherton: Noisy sports pique Menlo College neighbors (July 27, 2005)

By Andrea Gemmet

Almanac Staff Writer

Tweeeet! Thwack! Hey batter-batter-batter! Woooo-hoo!

These are the kinds of noises that have been driving the residents of Brittany Meadows to distraction.

The Athertonians who live near athletic fields used by Menlo College and Menlo School are desperate for some relief from the sound of baseballs hitting aluminum bats, coaches blowing whistles, crowds cheering and players shouting.

Between the sports camps held during the summer, the football practices and the batting cages, there's no peace, two Brittany Meadows residents told the Atherton City Council at the July 20 meeting.

"It's impossible to have a barbecue or use our pool," said Mike Greenberg, who made a recording of the ruckus caused by a lacrosse camp on a recent weekend and played it for the council's edification.

Joe O'Brien of Menlo College and David McAdoo and Tony LaPolla of Menlo School told the council they've been diligently trying to dampen the noise while preserving athletic programs on the fields they share.

Low-decibel whistles have been purchased, batting cages that can be locked against after-hours use are under construction, and rubberized baseballs have replaced the standard variety in pitching machines, they said.

Mr. Greenberg and his neighbor Jeff Hiller conceded that some progress has been made at meetings between residents and school officials, but they expressed frustration over some still-unresolved issues. Mr. McAdoo also admitted frustration.

"We're lost. We keep meeting and we keep trying to come up with solutions and we've spent a bunch of money," he told the council. "At the end of the day, just as the neighbors are trying to use their properties, we are trying to use our property."

But Councilman Alan Carlson warned the two groups against coming to the City Council for an answer.

One of the town's few ways to regulate use of school campuses is through its zoning ordinances, he said. A way to deal with the noise problem would be to create zoning setbacks that would effectively make it impossible for the school and college to use the two fields closest to residential back fences, Mr. Carlson said.

"You don't want us to legislate a solution," Mr. Carlson said. "When I came in, I thought virtually nothing had been done. I see that quite a bit has been done. I don't think you want us getting in the middle of this."

"We certainly don't," agreed Mr. O'Brien of Menlo College.

Duly motivated, the two groups agreed to take another stab at achieving a compromise before the council's next meeting in September.

E-mail a friend a link to this story.