By Kerri Williams

WESTPORT – Parks & Recreation officials on Monday were sent away again with more homework about their proposal to add lighting to two athletic fields in town following the fourth public hearing on the matter before the Planning & Zoning Commission. Previous meetings were held on May 20, June 2 and June 29.

The commission requested three plans regarding the lighting for PJ Romano field on Riverside Avenue and Wakeman B field on North Avenue. The plans are to focus on landscaping, sound mitigation and management practices for the fields. The lighting request from Erik Barbieri, director of Parks & Recreation, is necessary to alleviate a field shortage in town by allowing for more playing time in the evening for both school and town youth athletes, Parks & Rec officials have said.

The meeting included more opposition from Wakeman field neighbors, who are concerned about light and noise coming from the fields during night hours, and a presentation with Musco Lighting, the company Parks & Recreation officials are working with to provide the lighting. 

Michael Mahoney, the representative from Musco, gave a talk that conflicted with one last month by an expert retained by some neighbors, who said the lighting pole height could be lowered and light intensity reduced without an effect on play.

Musco’s presentation included a certificate saying that the current plan for four 70-foot poles is Dark Sky compliant. Dark Sky International is an organization that advocates for responsible outdoor lighting.

Mahoney added that the glare from the 70-foot poles is less than it would be for four 60-foot poles when the light would be flattened out and illuminate a larger area.

“The 70-foot pole is really a sweet spot,” Mahoney said. “It contains the light really well.”

Mahoney also disagreed with the other expert on the intensity of light necessary, saying that since the field will be used for high school lacrosse, where the ball is small and is thrown at a high rate of speed, the lighting needs to be at a higher level. 

As the two reports contained conflicting information, Town Attorney Ira Bloom said the commission should consider whether to ask for another peer review on the lighting paid for by the applicant. Paul Lebowitz, P&Z chairman, said he did not feel the need for a review, adding that he received the information he needed. Other commissioners did not speak out for a third review.

Several neighbors spoke up again during the public comment section, with many reiterating their concerns about late-night noise and disruption from lighting the fields in the evenings.

Shelby Keefer pointed out the Planning & Zoning regulation that says the lighting of fields should have no adverse effects on surrounding properties. “It will have adverse effects on us,” she said.

Another neighbor questioned the Parks & Recreation Department’s need for the fields, saying that his research shows that Westport has 12 athletic fields per 10,000 residents, compared to lower numbers in surrounding communities. Christopher Mashia said that “less impactful options” should be explored before adding more lighted fields.

P&Z commissioner Michael Calise said he would like to have more information about the fields per capita to know if the statistics given are correct. According to online information, Westport has 24 town athletic fields for a population of roughly 26,000, which translates to about nine fields per 10,000 residents. In contrast, Greenwich has 9.4 and Darien 7.5 fields per 10,000 residents, according to a regional comparison.

Nicole Laskin, a P&Z alternate, said she would like the Parks Department to consider some compromises in the hours that the fields can be lit. The current plan calls for play under the lights until 9 p.m. on Mondays through Thursdays and until 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. 

Barbieri said earlier in the meeting that having the lights in use for more hours is necessary because those youth sports fundraising for the lights may not want to do so if they do not get enough access to them.

But attorney Bloom spoke out to clarify that the financial viability of the project should not be a factor that influences the P&Z in its decision.

Lebowitz asked parks officials to put in writing what they have said about adding a landscaping buffer for neighbors, in addition to mitigating sound, monitoring events, and ensuring the lights are off when not in use. 

A landscaping plan is required for adding lighting to fields, according to P&Z regs. Although Planning & Zoning officials have said that there is already a landscaping plan, neighbors have disputed that assertion.

“I want a landscaping plan that is a lot more robust and specific,” Lebowitz said to parks officials. While Parks & Rec has provided some information on sound mitigation, Lebowitz said that too needs to be put in writing. “Let’s write it down and call it a plan,” he said. “Plans become part of the approval process and must be followed.” 

Commissioners unanimously voted to continue the hearing to its Aug. 17 meeting.

Kerri Williams

^{_{Kerri Williams is an award-winning writer and journalist. She has worked as a reporter at the Norwalk Hour, as Living editor at the Darien News-Review, and managing editor for the Norwalk Citizen-News. For Westport Journal, she is a reporter as well as a gardening columnist, writing “Cultivating with Kerri.” She recently published her first children’s book – “Mabel’s Big Move,” based on her daughter with special needs.}}