Saint Charles County panel denies brighter lights but approves taller poles for private school field

The Saint Charles County Board of Zoning Adjustment on Sept. 4, 2025, voted to deny a variance to exceed the county's 0.5 foot-candle illumination limit at a property line for a private school practice field but approved a second variance allowing light fixtures on poles up to 40 feet, subject to county conditions including full cutoff fixtures and no athletic-field lighting between 9 p.m. and 7 a.m.

The actions affect a private school and its adjacent practice field on Benny Road (parcel T222000523) in County Council District 2; the applicant sought both permission to exceed the county's maximum measured illumination at the property line and to install light poles taller than the 20-foot maximum in the Unified Development Ordinance.

Why it matters: The case drew a detailed staff presentation and a lengthy public comment from a neighbor who said existing exterior lighting already intrudes into his home. The board split on the illumination request and approved the pole-height variance with added conditions, leaving the matter subject to appeal to the County Council within 14 days after the board's written findings are mailed.

Board Chairman Jerry Printer opened the hearing and heard a presentation from the applicant's…