Ross Valenza, owner of the Diamond Tee driving range in Springfield, intended to build a camp with Rockland County justice Victor Alfieri, but they met with opposition when the site plan review law was enacted locally around the same time, in December of 2000.

Valenza tried to convince the newly developed planning board that his ideas had already been set in motion, and largely financed, prior to the creation of the site plan review law. When Valenza declined to provide substantiation of spent capital, the board refused permission to continue with the project outside the site plan review process.

Alfieri said he recently purchased sixty-two acres in Warren, just across the Springfield border, and said that's all he needs to develop his plan. He hopes to host up to seventy-five participants as early as August at the Cooperstown Diamonds academy, where parents and children will work together to learn skills from professional baseball players and coaches. Three fields are in the process of completion, with sod already down and irrigation systems being installed.

People living near the site in Warren reacted positively to the plan when Alfieri went public with it a month ago. Some already had ideas about constructing motels to keep pace with the changes and cut a profit. The Glimmerglass Motor Inn and surrounding land was sold to Alfieri, and he's currently living in the motel as the diamonds take shape.

Warren is without site plan review laws, which concerns Advocates for Springfield founding member Harry Levine, who regularly attends meetings of the Springfield planning board.

"Advocates for Springfield has the same issues with a baseball camp in Warren as we would have in Springfield," said Levine, who splits his time between New Jersey and Springfield. "Our concerns do not stop at municipal boundaries. Specifically, we are interested in ambient light, noise, traffic, water, and septic issues. We do not know what Mr. Alfieri is planning or how his plans address these issues. Further, we do not know what approvals he has obtained to build or operate this facility. We feel that Route 20 is a better road on which to place such activity than his prior location on Route 31."

Levine, who owns commercial buildings in New Jersey, said he's aware of the lack of site plan review or zoning ordinance in Warren.

"We have read statements from Mr. Alfieri to the point that he would do nothing to harm the community. We hope he follows up on this promise with plans that address our concerns," Levine said.

Levine has stated on the record that he will be monitoring the situation as it unfolds.

Valenza and Alfieri were together last Wednesday night, socializing in Cooperstown.

"We're going to have a Harry Levine day because we know he's watching us and we want to give him the best seat in the house so he can see every move that we make," Alfieri said.

Valenza said he thinks the camp is a great idea.

"I thought it was a great idea when we were going to put it on my property and I still think so," he said. "I think Springfield lost out. But it's still going to have a good impact for me. There will be a lot of smiling children in Warren. What's wrong with smiling children?" Valenza asked.