(KAIR) -- The project to move the baseball and softball fields at Benedictine College north of Larry Wilcox Stadium is official.

This comes following the unanimous passage by Atchison City Commissioners Monday night to re-zone select property surrounding the college as a planned district.

This is the final hurdle the college had to clear following several meetings where debate against the project took place by a citizens group largely consisting of neighbors living near the new complex location.

Final debate occurred for around 25 minutes.

Five people spoke publicly in opposition to the project citing variables such as lower property values, concerns of noise and concern of the press box of the stadium being too close to the properties.
 
One of those five was Rick Coronado, who believes the passage of the project was done in haste.

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Some of those people also requested the college to look into putting the fields in another location or to utilize and expand the Atchison Sports Complex.

President Steve Minnis says not moving the fields would hinder the future growth of the college.

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The college will now move forward with further design plans and fund raising.

College officials estimate that it could be at least a year before any of these complexes could be finished.