I feel I must respond to Scott Laconi’s opinions supporting Matt Clement’s Baseball Academy in the March 22 Butler Eagle. I respect the right of anyone to their opinion, but I do research on the subject before voicing mine.

Opinion: I believe anyone has the right to venture into the business world in the correctly established zoned area for their business and without the assistance of taxpayers’ money.

Opinion: Being a sport, especially a baseball enthusiast, I believe another sports training facility would be an asset to the Butler community. I also believe it should be in an area zoned for commercial or industrial use.

Fact: In 2010, Clement’s Baseball Academy, a limited liability corporation, was established.

Fact: Clement’s Baseball Academy received $500,000 in state grant money. I verified this through the office of state Rep. Brian Ellis.

Fact: This complex applied for a zoning variance for height under “low-impact recreational” on land zoned (R-1) Residential Single Family Homes.

Opinion: A complex with the main structure 376 feet by 220 feet by 65 feet with additional buildings, a restaurant (retail food sales), a pro shop (retail sales), and which charges for instruction and rental of space is not low-impact recreational.

Fact: Feb. 29, 2012. Zoning Hearing Board Minutes. A statement concerning height, “You do need the height when passing a football or playing volleyball.”

Opinion: Unless you can find some 50-foot-tall volleyball players, I would say 20 feet might be enough. But 65 feet?

Fact: February 29, 2012. Zoning Hearing Board Minutes. Mr. Patten stated, “At any given point they will probably have 36 to 48 kids with parents picking them up or dropping them off.”

Fact: The exhibit by Mr. Patten with variance requests showed the picture of a building with 100,000 square feet and with seating for 1,300 spectators. To be fair, the square footage of their complex is only 82,720 square feet, so the seating would only be for 1,075 spectators plus participants, coaches, etc.

Fact: I contacted the township officials in 20 indoor sport facilities and sports complexes in Pennsylvania, and not one of them is located on R-1 zoned residential land. They are all in commercial or industrial areas.

Other sports domes make additional profits renting the sports domes out for concerts and boat shows.

Opinion: Mr. Laconi should check his facts before making statements about my good neighbors and our peaceful community of Highfield.