P&Z Mulls Restrictions On

Athletic Field Lighting

By Andrew Gorosko

Following extended discussion, Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) members appear to have reached a consensus that the zoning regulations they approved last spring, which would allow outdoor sporting events in an M-2A (Industrial) zone, should be revised to limit the nighttime hours during which athletic field lighting may operate.

At a September 6 session, P&Z members appeared to have reached a consensus that nighttime lighting at outdoor sports fields should be turned off by 9 pm on Mondays through Saturdays, and turned off by 7 pm on Sundays. P&Z members, however, did not vote on the matter. A vote on the topic is expected at a September 20 session.

P&Z members have been considering the potential adverse effects of a proposed major private indoor-outdoor recreational sports complex in an M-2A zone, where spectators would be allowed.

Last April the P&Z approved a set of zoning rule changes to allow such sports complexes in the M-2A zone, following a March request from developer SEPG, LLC, of Brookfield, which has a purchase option to buy a sloping 33.4-acre site at 93 Mt Pleasant Road, where it wants to build the proposed Newtown Sports Center in an M-2A zone.

An initial construction phase would include indoor and outdoor sports facilities, as well as office space. Future phases of the four-building project would include office space and industrial space. One version of the overall project has been proposed to enclose more than 320,000 square feet of space. The site, which would contain an estimated 500 parking spaces, lies west of Whippoorwill Hill Road.

Upset that they were unaware of the implications of the zoning rule changes that were being sought by SEPG due to a vague legal notice for a March P&Z public hearing, a group of residents from the Whippoorwill Hill Road and Tory Lane area has urged the P&Z to rescind its decision to allow such sports complexes in the M-2A zone.

The residents charge that such a complex would be troublesome to them in terms of spectator noise, traffic, field lighting, and security issues.

The developer has yet to submit formal applications for the project to the Inland Wetlands Commission (IWC) and the P&Z. The developer is seeking approval from the Water and Sewer Authority (WSA) for a sanitary sewer extension to the site.

On September 4, P&Z member Robert Poulin expressed concerns that athletic field lighting would adversely affect nearby residential properties. “I’m trying to find some kind of compromise,” he said.

Mr Poulin noted that an outdoor sports facility in Monroe keeps its field lights on as late as 11 pm.

Before P&Z members reached an apparent consensus on when to cut off field lighting, they considered a range of options. These included: having no field lighting whatsoever; having no field lighting on Sundays; and turning off field lighting by 8 pm.

Elizabeth Stocker, town planning director, said that she would prepare a series of proposed motions for P&Z action on the field lighting issue for the September 20 session.

P&Z Chairman Lilla Dean noted that any applicant for a sports center in an M-2A zone should realize that the P&Z wants to place certain restrictions on such a land use.

In its April zoning rule changes, P&Z members decided that recreation facilities in an M-2A zone may include indoor and/or outdoor golf courses, dance studios, health and exercise facilities, racquetball, squash, basketball, volleyball and tennis courts, baseball, football, soccer and lacrosse fields, field hockey, track and field, swimming pools, ice skating rinks, and any other recognized collegiate sport. Also, such facilities may include seating for spectators.

Other permitted uses in an M-2A zone include office buildings, hotel/conference centers, light industry, and research and development complexes. Retail and service businesses are allowed as accessory uses.

The purpose of M-2A zoning is to allow significant economic development, without adversely affecting the character of surrounding neighborhoods or overburdening the natural or built environments.