Emotions ran high at Monday night's Peters council meeting when a disagreement about recreational spending in next year's budget turned into a shouting match.

At least eight coaches from various youth sports leagues turned out at the meeting to rebuff criticism from a resident who had questioned the need for more ball fields in Peterswood Park.

Ron Boocks told council during a budget hearing Dec. 1 that there was "absolutely no indication whatsoever" that the township needed new ball fields, based partly on a survey he conducted.

The township's preliminary $19 million budget for next year calls for about $2 million in spending for new ball fields.

But the coaches, many of whom have approached council in the past to complain about a lack of fields, told council Monday that the need for new fields has become critical as participation in sports has increased by up to 300 percent in some leagues.

"We recognize that there is a shortage of fields," said Steve Anderson, of the Peters Township Junior Football Association.

Soccer coaches told council two teams sometimes have to practice on the same field, while a softball coach said his players practice in parking lots due to poor field conditions.

Several of the coaches took aim at Mr. Boocks for remarks he made again on Monday, and the heated disagreement continued in the hallway of the township municipal building after the public comment portion of the meeting had ended.

Council is expected to vote on the budget on Monday.

Tense emotions also were generated by a request from a salon owner for more parking spaces.

Saying they were scared for the safety of their children, about half a dozen residents spoke out against a request to rezone a portion of Stephen's Hair Graphics on Route 19 from a residential zone to a commercial zone to accommodate new parking.

The business will lose about 21 of its 63 parking spaces when the state Department of Transportation begins rebuilding the Route 19/Valleybrook Road intersection next year.

Based on the square footage of the building, the business is required to have at least 63 parking spaces available.

Owner Stephen Szabo said he would go out of business without the new parking, but residents of nearby Old Washington Road said speeding cars already present a danger to them.

Rezoning the area would exacerbate traffic, they said, and could allow Mr. Szabo to destroy a buffer zone and eventually construct new commercial buildings, possibly in their neighborhood.

Two previous attempts by Mr. Szabo to rezone the property were denied by the township.

"Nobody does 25 on that road," said parent Natalie Hess, referring to the posted 25 mph speed limit.

"To be very honest, it scares me to death," she said.

Residents said they favored a zoning variance that could be granted to Mr. Szabo for parking only.

Councilman Robert Lewis questioned Mr. Szabo and his lawyer about why they didn't seek a variance instead of rezoning, the more cumbersome of the two options.

Mr. Szabo said design plans for the new parking area have yet to be worked out.

If the request is granted, council would have final site plan approval.

Council is expected to make a decision at its second meeting in January. The date has not yet been determined.