Tabor works through the weekend, lays out turf for new field

Jul 17, 2011

Tabor Academy continued laying out turf for its new controversial athletic fields throughout Saturday and Sunday.

Tabor could not be reached for comment, nor could the Acushnet-based contractor D.W. White, which is involved with building the fields.

On July 14, the Massachusetts Land Court heard the Town of Marion's request to halt construction of the new athletic fields under construction at Tabor Academy in violation of a cease-and-desist order issued by the Marion Building Commissioner, according to a news release by the Town of Marion.

Judge Piper, of the Land Court, ruled that construction may proceed on the turf field but not on the proposed lighting, dugouts and bleachers and backstop unless the same is approved by the Marion Zoning Board of Appeals.

The court did not conclude that the project was exempt from the site plan review process, as Tabor has asserted.  The town's position remained that Marion's site plan review bylaw is applicable to Tabor's proposed project.

The Marion Zoning Board of Appeals will hold a continued hearing on Tabor's proposal for 90-foot light towers on July 28.  Hearings on the proposed dugouts and bleachers have no be set yet but are expected in early September.

Tabor Academy plans to build three new athletic fields with 90-foot lighting towers, dugouts, bleachers and a backstop, all of which will be visible from Front Street.  The plan has garnered opposition from abutters and local residents, some of whom believe the materials used in the construction of the field may be toxic and could cause dangerous runoff into Sippican Harbor.