Lights Approved by Planning and Zoning

Lights will shine at the stadium field at the Darien High School—at least for a short while.

The utilization of lights at town playing fields has been highly contested for a long time. Proponents say that lighting the fields is necessary to ensure safe practices, especially for high-contact sports like football. Opponents, particularly neighbors whose homes abut the fields, say that the lights are too bright, too loud (when they are run by generators) and overall, too intrusive.

Brought before the Planning and Zoning Commission is a temporary—albeit unsatisfactory—fix. The compromise is this: six, 20-foot-high, AC-powered portable lights, which will light the fields in November when daylight savings significantly shortens practice time.

On Oct. 6, P&Z approved the Darien Junior Football League’s application for such lights at Holahan Field; and this afternoon, Oct. 16, before an audience of public officials, BOE and DJFL representatives, concerned residents, friends and family, the commission voted unanimously on both the DJFL's and the Board of Education’s proposals for lights at the Darien High School stadium field.

The commission granted permission to both applicants, with a few modifications; but only one, a change to the DJFL’s proposal, came as a surprise: in the interest of consistency with the Holohan Field proposal, the league will have to have to comply with a “lights out by 7 p.m.” curfew. That’s not a problem at Holahan Field, say DJFL representatives, where the league’s players are the ones on the field, but the curfew poses a problem at the stadium field, as the league shares space—and time—with the high school teams.

“At this site you have a transition period; that could be 15 minutes, and if they have to get off too, they only have 30 minutes to practice,” said member Vickie Riccardo. “I’m wondering if there’s a loss of value.”

But Secretary Joseph Spain, who said at Monday’s meeting that the Holahan set precedent for the Stadium decision, said that consistency was of utmost importance.

“They’ll probably come up with a very efficient way to maneuver this. I think to shut down at 7 p.m. is an important element,” said Spain.

Vice-Chairman Peter Bigelow added:

“Warm-up and cool down does not have to be done under the lights.”

But DJFL reps, while pleased with the decision, were not so pleased with the tightened curfew:

“This is kind of silly,” said DJFL President Dick Albu. “It doesn’t give us much time to do anything.”

Under the Board of Education’s approved proposal, the boys and girls soccer teams, the field hockey team, and the football team may practice under the lights for a maximum of 25 weekdays, starting Monday, Nov. 9 and ending on the last day of practice (usually football). While subject to tweaking, the decision stands for the next three years through the 2011 fall season.

The DJFL may use the lights for a maximum of 10 weekdays starting Nov. 9 and ending no later than Friday, Nov. 20; that approval only stands for 2009.

Both applicants will have to submit expert analyses of light and sound, and written reports on the effectiveness (or lack thereof) of the lights with feedback from neighbors. Those reports are due in January.

No doubt the debate will continue beyond the context of Town Hall, but the commission has made its decision: lights will shine at the stadium field at the Darien High School—at least for a short while.