The Lebanon Zoning Board rejected a College request to build a rugby clubhouse at Sachem Field at Monday night's meeting, deciding that the proposed facility was not necessary to playing the sport.
After 30 minutes of debate, the board voted 3-2 to deny the College's club rugby team the special exception it needed to build a one-story clubhouse off Route 10.
According to Lebanon Coding Enforcement Director Carmela Hennessy, the board felt that the plan "went beyond the scope of the ordinance" already granted to the rugby team for the use of their outdoor facilities.
The proposed clubhouse would have included a kitchen, a team meeting and dining area, lockers, bathrooms and equipment storage space. Uses would have included post-game dinners, team meetings and alumni receptions.
Zoning Board member Robert Issacs, who voted against the proposal, expressed concern that alcohol might be served at alumni events, noting that such activity was not allowed under the original ordinance.
Member Robert Perry, who voted in favor of the clubhouse, argued that, since rugby is a club sport and is not funded by the College, alumni receptions would be necessary for fundraising.
"Because it is a club sport, it does require reception-type (functions) ... the raising of money - that is paramount with a club sport," he said.
However, the majority of the board agreed that the clubhouse could increase noise and traffic and decrease pedestrian safety and drainage efficiency.
Although Monday's ruling marks the board's official decision on the rugby facilities, zoning officials have been discussing the matter since March. When one member called a vote three weeks ago, the board also voted to deny the clubhouse. No Dartmouth representatives attended Monday's meeting.
The College now has 30 days to petition the board for re-hearing. However, according to Hennessy, "re-hearings are not automatic." The board will agree to hear only those cases in which new evidence can be provided or it can be proven that an issue was overlooked in the primary hearing.
