Baseball Team Owner Withdraws Ballpark Proposal

Professional baseball missed its shot at Clawson.

Team owner David Martin said Wednesday morning he will no longer pursue a proposal to revamp City Park for minor league baseball games.

Martin's decision came after residents and commissioners shot down the proposal at a contentious public hearing on Tuesday evening that attracted more than 100 people.

"I'm not going to keep throwing money and pursuing something that is an uphill battle," Martin told the Clawson Patch. "I thought the efforts to block it were somewhat strong."

Martin said he will take his plan to other cities with hopes that they will be more welcoming. 

At least 25 residents alternately praised or voiced concerns with the plan disrupting the peace in the community.

At end of the four-hour long public hearing, the Planning Commission voted to table a decision, citing a number of gray areas in the team owner's plan.

"We'd be foolish to vote on this without having all the information," said commissioner Rocco Romano, who spoke against the proposal.

Martin, a former Clawson resident, would have had to resubmit his site plan and address details on parking and traffic flow. However, Martin said he was on a tight deadline with plans to have the park ready for the 2012 season.

“We are disappointed, but on the flip side of the coin, it is the citizens' city," Martin said. "We want to come to a city that we feel welcome to and somewhere that welcomes business and welcomes investments."

Many residents had concerns, such as the disruption to the community, the serving of alcohol, parking and traffic in neighborhoods and safety. Many of those issues had not been fully addressed.

"The devils are in the details," resident Deb Wooley said during public comment. "I don't wanna have to fight those details later."  

Martin said he realizes many residents supported the plan, but those opposed were the loudest.

Resident Darlene McDaniel said Tuesday night she believed this was a great opportunity for a small town.

"I can't believe how many people in Clawson are afraid of change," said McDaniel who lives near the park on Elmwood.

Several Clawson Patch Facebook fans agreed it was a missed opportunity for the city.

"He had to do what was best for his business after Clawson decided to do what was not best for our city," Tamara Macks Shepard said in a post.

While the Planning Commission voted to postpone their final decision at the public hearing, commissioners were already speaking out against it.

"This would disrupt the quiet evenings in the yards," commissioner Bill Tite said.

Romano agreed it would not be good for the city.

"I'm totally against this," Romano said, adding that he had concerns about commercial use, safety and alcohol near .