Cooper Stadium Gets Extension on Permit to Rent
The Robbinsdale School District can continue renting its stadium at Cooper High School for non-school events.
A unanimous vote by the New Hope City Council extended a conditional use permit which allows the school to let outside groups use the stadium. The facility was originally permitted for use only by youth, and half of the participants at any given event had to be from the Robbinsdale School District, as well as at least half of the audience.
But the conditional use permit approved last April removed those restrictions for a one-year trial period. The city was poised to make the change permanent, but a couple of New Hope residents pointed out that there weren’t enough outside events held over the last year to make a good test.
At New Hope Mayor Kathi Hemken’s request, city staff prepared a resolution which extended the permit for an additional two years instead of permanently.
Robbinsdale Area Schools Responsible for Cleanup
Under the CUP requirements, the district must take deposits for trash and litter removal, then inspect the stadium after a rental is over to make sure it’s cleaned up. There also needs to be a way for the public to contact stadium management if a group renting the stadium is causing problems in the surrounding neighborhood, and that method needs to be clearly communicated to the public.
New Hope City Council member John Elder expressed concern that the district hadn’t met its obligations on that last requirement, and threw his support behind the two-year extension.
“I love (Robbinsdale School District) 281, get me not wrong,” Elder said. “My kids went through it. But in my mind they fell short of their obligation to provide this information.”
The amended CUP extension passed unanimously. To view the entire council meeting, click here.
Brandon Bankston, Reporting
