Saint Anselm College receives approval to build sports complex in Bedford

St. Anselm Track Plans

St. Anselm College’s current plans for the new track and field complex.

Saint Anselm College received approval from the Bedford Planning Board to construct an on-campus track and field complex with an eight-lane track, a synthetic turf field, lighting, spectator seating, and an amenities building with locker rooms.

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Plans for the complex have been a long time coming, according to Paul Pronovost, spokesman for Saint Anselm College. The college announced in 2022 both the addition of track and field as a varsity sport and their plans for the new track and field complex.

“This has been in the works for a couple of years, and when we made that announcement we knew full well that it would take a bit of time to work its way through the regulatory process,” Pronovost said. “We had to work with Bedford, Manchester and Goffstown.”

The complex will be located off of Rundlett Hill Road in Bedford and St. Anselm’s Drive in Goffstown. The complex will be situated mainly in Bedford, but will border Manchester and Goffstown, according to Pronovost.

“We received the provisional approval from the Bedford Planning Board and are in the process of finalizing the development agreement which would spell out things that are important for the community as a whole,” Pronovost said. “This would be for things like testing for PFAS, heights of light poles, drainage, and any other concerns the community has.”

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Bedford Town Council Vice Chair Phil Greazzo said he was surprised the plans passed through the Planning Board and raised concerns about the complex being in a residential area.

“It’s kind of a headscratcher how everyone decided it was a good idea to put a sports complex in the middle of a residential neighborhood. There should have been more folks along the way who said ‘no,'” Greazzo said. “If this was their house and they had to look at 90-foot light poles and listen to the noise, they probably would not appreciate it.”

Greazzo said they discussed at the June 16 Planning Board meeting including in the development agreement specific decibel levels that the college would not be allowed to exceed, times the lights will be in operation, and the number of events that will be held at the complex.

“If they exceed the decibel level, there needs to be a penalty for that and it needs to be significant enough where the college won’t just ignore it,” Greazzo said. “I hope the agreement is strict enough where they are actually good neighbors and aren’t treating us the way they treated the folks from Goffstown.”

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Greazzo said a Goffstown resident whose home abuts the Grappone Stadium (the college’s football field) complained that the college frequently exceeded the agreed decibel level and ignored noise complaints.

“If they didn’t have that questionable history with the Goffstown residents, then I would think that they would act in good faith,” Greazzo said. “But I haven’t seen that so far.”

Pronovost said the college’s intention is to be a good neighbor.

“I think the college has responded to noise complaints; we have been a part of this community since 1889 and wouldn’t still be in good standing with the community if we were not responsive,” Pronovost said. “We will continue to listen and respond as we need to and will absolutely endeavor to be good respectful neighbors.”

According to Pronovost, the development agreement should be finalized within 30 to 60 days and the college hopes to break ground in the fall.

sgreen@unionleader.com