By Matt Smith/msmith@trcle.com

Differences of opinion arose during Tuesday’s Cleburne City Council workshop session as participants discussed the best ways to address the old sports complex and a proposed accessory building and structure ordinance.

The council allocated $200,000 for improvements to the old facility located across the street from the more recent Cleburne Youth Sports Complex. Many thought the new complex would render the older one obsolete, but residents and local sports associations continue to use the older facility for practice and pick-up games.

“Which is fine, we do have a need for practice facilities for all our sports,” said Max Robertson, Cleburne Parks and Recreation director.

Old, unsafe light poles need to come down as soon as possible, everyone agreed. Differences emerged about the complex’s fencing, however. All agreed the rickety fencing and baseball back stops throughout the complex should be removed.

Robertson envisioned surrounding the entire complex with one fence and taking out four of the six baseball diamonds. The change would leave most of the complex as open field, which could be used for baseball, football, soccer and other sports, he said.

Mayor Ted Reynolds said he believed the intention was to install new back stops and fencing around the existing baseball diamonds and use the facility’s football field for those other purposes.

Others raised concerns about spending too much on the old facility.

“I think it’s a good investment for the kids to have a practice field,” Councilman John Warren said. “But we spent a ton of money on the new complex, and everyone was gung ho. Now they want to make the old one as good as the new one.”

Councilman Kyle Boles also called the old complex worthwhile but said council members should watch spending carefully because the city cemetery owns the land. Cleburne Public Services Director Mike Claunch estimated that the cemetery will need to begin using the land in 15-20 years, at which time all the old sports complex facilities would need to be removed.

The feeling among council members was that local sports associations should cover the cost of new lighting if they want it. Reynolds encouraged council members to seek input from users of the complex before the council voted on a final decision.

Reynolds and Councilman Bob Force disagreed over a proposed ordinance regarding accessory buildings and structures installed on residential properties.

The ordinance exempts structures of 120 square feet or less. Larger structures would have to meet certain size and design requirements. They could not exceed 18 feet and would have to match the property’s main structure.

The ordinance also allows portable, on-demand storage units for a limited span of time but prohibits freight containers.

The ordinance would curtail unsightly out buildings in neighborhoods, Force said. But Reynolds opposed the proposal.

“I can’t support this; it goes way too far and is an unnecessary intrusion of government into peoples’ business,” Reynolds said. “Maybe we can come up with something else, but I think this, as it’s worded, goes way too far.”

Force disagreed and called for an up or down vote at the next city council meeting. Reynolds suggested discussing the matter in one more workshop to work out possible solutions.

Council members heard thoughts on long-range traffic planning from Aaron Nathan, a traffic engineer with Kimley Horn and Associates.

“I don’t need to tell anyone here how bad traffic is getting,” Nathan said. “If it’s not already out of control, it’s certainly on the verge, given population growth and gas play in the area.”

Council members should focus on establishing alternate routes for heavy truck traffic, solutions to alleviate congested areas around downtown and Henderson Street, and prepare for the impact of Texas 121, which is slated to come through Cleburne, Nathan said.