Plans to add a 4,000-seat football field to the Lawrence High campus at 19th and Louisiana streets are set to be debated by planning commissioners this week.

The Lawrence-Douglas County Planning Commission will consider a special-use permit that would allow the school district to convert the current football practice field and track into a competition venue, complete with lights and a sound system. The commission meets at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at City Hall, Sixth and Massachusetts streets.

The district also is seeking permission to build a new softball field south of the football field and to build a competition baseball field at the site of the former Centennial School, 2145 La. The district also wants to move the current Lawrence tennis complex from LHS to the Centennial site. By moving the tennis courts, the district would be able to add 322 parking spaces to the LHS campus.

Several neighbors have expressed concerns with the project, fearing it will create drainage, traffic and noise problems. Several parents of students have urged commissioners to approve the project, which the district has said will address inequities between LHS and Free State High School.

Commissioners also will consider a separate permit to add lights, bleachers and other amenities to fields at Free State.

City commissioners have the final say on the issues.