ITHACA, NY (607NewsNow) — Cornell’s athletics administration is breathing a sigh of relief.

On March 18, the Town of Ithaca’s Planning Board made a negative determination of environmental significance on the proposed artificial turf field on Game Farm Road. The facility would host Cornell field hockey games.

The hotly contested proposal has seen pushback from environmental advocates. Zero Waste Ithaca Founder Yayoi Koizumi said Cornell officials have “fought tooth and nail” to avoid doing a full environmental impact study.

“If they are so certain about the safety of this project, why are they so vehemently opposed to a comprehensive, transparent, public review?” she said.

Cornell field hockey player Georgia Kelly said artificial turf is a “non-issue” in the European countries she’s experienced. She encouraged the Planning Board to approve the project at a prior meeting on March 4.

Cornell President Michael Kotlikoff has also expressed his support for the proposal.