Feb 7, 2008
One more hearing before DHS stadium lights decision
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It’s been almost two years since the proposal for stadium lights came to the Board of Education.
The proposal, which heads to its second public hearing on Wednesday, has been reviewed by a committee, panned by high school neighbors, and praised by the Darien sports community.
Supporters said the town’s investment in a new high school facility should be maximized and the athletic community needs more field space. The opposition is mainly from neighbors of the high school, who have expressed concern about traffic, litter, and substance abuse in the area that would affect home values and quality of life.
The board received a proposal from Rusty Shriner for four 80-foot light poles in June 2006. He also proposed the plan to the Board of Selectman.
“By adding lights, the stadium field can be utilized for more hours in the day, a strategy almost all towns in lower Fairfield County have incorporated,” Shriner said to the Board of Education at the time.
Shriner said the lights, which would be funded through private donations, would also allow the town to host various Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference and state tournament playoff games.
At first, the draft limitations for use of the lights did not include using the field for evening conference games. However, the board changed those regulations to include one conference event, which would add three games to 12 set for fall and 10 set for spring.
In September 2006, about 100 people attended a public information meeting held jointly by the Board of Education and the Board of Selectmen in the high school auditorium.
Walter “Bud” Raleigh, who represented the high school neighbors against the lights, submitted a petition signed by 165 individuals from 123 households against the lights.
At the board’s meeting following that hearing, Boulton said he did not think he was ready to make a decision on the lights, and deferred the process until spring after concluding the budget season.
Last May, the board received a letter from an attorney representing “an indeterminate amount” of high school neighbors threatening legal action if the board goes forward with the lights plan.
This past fall, the lights committee, made up of Board of Ed members George Reilly, Clara Sartori and Heather Shea presented a report that provided background, summaries of the opposing and supporting viewpoints, interviews with neighboring school districts that have lighted fields, the schedule on how the lights are used, and the impact the lights have on the surrounding neighbors and environment. Interviews with consultants are also included.
The committee put together a set of limits for the lights that, in addition to allowing one conference event, regulates the shut off time for the lights, which would be 8 p.m. for practices during the week, 9 p.m. for weekend games other than football, which would end by 10 p.m.
Only high school and the town’s youth sports teams may use the lighted field. The lights cannot be used on Sundays or in between seasons.
Use of the amplified sound would have to be pre-approved. And, according to the regulations drafted by the board, there can only be one night game per weekend.
Previous regulations allowed only Darien High School’s band to play at football games through half-time, but a recent revision allowed the visiting team’s band to also play at half-time.
In discussions about the regulations for the lights, the board often mentioned it was attempting to be considerate of the high school’s neighbors and their quality of life and was seeking a compromise for all.
A full draft of the board’s draft regulations for the lights is at DarienTimes.com.
A group of lights supporters has created a Web site at dhslights.com. The site includes the board’s regulations, photos and descriptions of the proposed lights and a petition.
A public hearing will be held on the lights proposal on Wednesday, Feb. 13, at 7:30 in the Darien High School auditorium.
At the last Board of Education meeting, Boulton said that following Wednesday’s public hearing, he expects the board to reach a conclusion on the lights by the next meeting.
“At the second meeting in February, I think it is time for the board to decide on this lights issue.”
© Copyright 2008 by Hersam Acorn Newspapers
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