Wilmette’s Zoning Board of Appeals has rejected Loyola Academy’s request to install powerful outdoor lights by its football field to hold night games, setting the stage for a final vote on the proposal by the Village Board in November.
During an Oct. 11 meeting, the board voted three to two against making a positive recommendation to the Village Board on Loyola’s request for two special uses and multiple variations so it can install 80-foot high lighting poles to illuminate Hoerster Field at night. The school also wants to install a Jumbo Tron.
The Village Board is expected to take up the proposal at its Nov. 14 meeting.
In order override the zoning board’s vote at least five of the seven trustees on the board would have to vote in favor of Loyola’s zoning request.
The issue has led to disagreement among residents living near the school who say they worry it will create light, noise and traffic problems and others who say many other Chicago area high schools have lights for night games and Loyola should also be allowed to as well.
“The thing that I struggle with is that at the end of the day this is not a policymaking body,” said ZBA member Karl Camillucci who voted against Loyola’s request at the Oct. 11 meeting. “If there’s going to be policy decisions about things like how to balance between lights and other policy interests faced by the village it will be made by people other than this board.
Camillucci also said the problem really boils down to concerns about allowing extended use of the field and the collateral impacts of such, echoing concerns of those living near Ryan Field and its proposed expanded use for concerts and other events.
Loyola said it wants to install four 80 feet tall light poles around the running track and football field with LED fixtures affixed to a rack on top with illumination directed down at the field, which according to the school, would no glare or spillage across residential property lines adjacent to the athletic field. The school held two neighborhood open house meetings, one in February and a second in June, which enabled neighbors and residents to hear from Loyola’s planning team, review plans, ask questions and provide feedback about the proposed permanent lights, the school said in a statement.
It also said it commissioned a sound study to determine how noise from night games will impact nearby neighborhoods, a market impact analysis to determine if the installation and use of the permanent lights would adversely impact neighboring property values, commissioned an updated traffic management plan to establish enhanced protocols for Friday night football games connecting Loyola’s Security Department with the Wilmette Police Department to develop increased security measures for Friday night football game crowds and traffic.
There would be a total of 60 nights when the lights will be used, a maximum of five football games under the lights with a 10:30 p.m. lighted curfew, a maximum of 25 non-football games under the lights with a 9 p.m. lighted curfew, a maximum of 30 practices with a 7 p.m. lighted curfew and the use of the lights only for Loyola Academy athletes and students, said the school.
“We’ve had extensive reports on the application from the people at Loyola, their experts, their attorneys,” said ZBA Chair Reinhard Schneider who voted in favor of Loyola. “Most importantly we’ve heard from the neighbors, a lot of them, and from people who support or are against this proposal.”
While it wasn’t an easy decision, Schneider said the proposal made sense.
“I think the neighborhood will come to see it that way too,” he said. “They are right now alarmed because any change can be alarming.”
Brian L. Cox is a freelance reporter with Pioneer Press.