Rugby field unwanted by neighbors

Residents living near a 35-acre site in Cottontown are unhappy that the a portion of the property will be used as a rugby field in the next few years.

Residents argue the land is not fit for a field that will increase traffic, noise and pollution, disturbing their rural peace. The team's coach and property owner said the endeavor will have minor effect on the area and will benefit youth.

Earlier this month, residents launched a campaign against the rugby field proposed to be built on parts of 35 acres in the county west of Gallatin and southwest of Cottontown. The land was willed to Volunteer State Community College, which in turn, leased it to the Sumner County Rugby Football Club. The organization plans to build a year-round playing field and hopes to have it open by January.

Cottontown resident Catlin Hale lives directly across from the land. She wants to know why the landowner, the rugby coach and the county didn't ask neighbors how they feel about the proposal.

"We want to know why a public community meeting was not called first to introduce this idea and ask the residents how they felt about the land being used in this way," Hale said. "We are already limited on the amount of land available for hay and agricultural fields in this rural area."

Vol State president 'caught off guard'

Jerry Faulkner, president of Volunteer State Community College, said he was "caught off guard by the opposition."

"Maybe I was a little naive because I just never considered the idea that people would be unwilling to accept a little bit of potential inconvenience in return for having a place for children to play sports," Faulkner said. "Our idea, in terms of our mission as a college to support the community, was that this was a county-wide community effort to provide another opportunity for boys and girls for that matter to play rugby."

Vol State will hold a meeting at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in Thigpen Library to share more information with residents about the proposal.

Opal Maynor, who's built her life in the picturesque country community for the past 60 years, feels the rugby proposal will bring much inconvenience with it.

"I bought this land and built this house so I could retire and live in a quiet place," said Maynor, 90, who lives right across form the proposed field. "I don't want this to happen in my community and on my corner. I want this to stay a peaceful location without night lights and noise disturbing my evenings and my view."

Light and noise coming from the games should not create an issue, said Brian Silkwood, board member and coach for the rugby club.

"I don't think the lights that we would be putting up would be any more than cars driving down the road," Silkwood said. "Our lights are really only mostly for when we really, really need them. I would think where we would likely put the field and its proximity to any house — just the way the land works — it's going to be a good ways from the street."

Faulkner said the meeting will be an information session not a debate.

"I've talked with lots of folks about this issues, exchanged some emails with folks and certainly was aware that people have some strong feelings and strong opinions," Faulkner said. "The other thing I became aware of was that people had based those opinions on misperceptions and misinformation.

So I just wanted to be sure that everybody had the facts as they make their decision about whether they are for the rugby field or against it. So this is strictly an information meeting. We're not there to debate whether it's a good thing or a bad thing," the college president said. "We'll have another meeting for those kind of public comments, but the one on this Tuesday night is strictly an information meeting. We're trying our best to use (the property) for the benefit of the community and to honor the request of the person that gave it to the college."

Reach Dessislava Yankova at 575-7170 and on Twitter @desspor. Reach Josh Cross at 575-7115.

IF YOU GO

Rugby Field Information Meeting

Tuesday, July 28, 6:30 p.m.

Volunteer State Community College, Thigpen Library

1480 Nashville Pike in Gallatin

615-452-8600

FYI

To learn more about the Sumner County Rugby Football Club, visit

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sumner-County-High-School-Rugby/156905364372249

To learn how some residents feel about the rugby field, www.SaveUpperStation.com