Hanover Planning Board member Christopher Kennedy, whose architectural firm has been hired by the College real estate office, has recused himself from the controversial Chase Field case to avoid any appearance of impropriety.
Kennedy said he stepped down because "there might be some people who see potential conflict," especially with both the College and the town appealing the Planning Board's controversial decision on the construction of Chase Field.
"To make things easier, I stepped aside rather than having this become as an issue," Kennedy told The Dartmouth.
Shortly after the Planning Board's controversial Nov. 24 decision to restrict College construction on Chase Field, Dartmouth hired Kennedy's UK Architects P.C. firm to complete a small office planning project on Lebanon Street.The question of whether Planning Board members with connection to the College should be allowed to participate in cases relating to Dartmouth has been up for debate in recent months.
Last November, The Dartmouth reported that nine out of the 11 members of the Planning Board had some tie to the College. These connections had some members of the town worried that the board may be biased in favor of the College.
Kennedy sat on the board that voted last November to approve the restrictions on the construction of the Chase Field athletic complex. The restrictions included limiting nighttime play to 10 events per year, and limiting the use of the public-address system.
The College filed an appeal in December calling the restrictions "unfair" and in violation of the First Amendment.
A group of residents fighting the construction on Chase Field filed a counter-appeal on Jan. 5, in response to Dartmouth's appeal. The Planning Board decided at their Jan. 19 meeting to further revise the restrictions on the Chase Field construction to try to appease both sides. It is still unclear whether these revisions will be enough to put an end to the legal battle between the College and the Board.
