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Committee approves Ryan Field softball changes with limits on amplified sound and lighting
Summary
The Planning & Development Committee approved a minor adjustment to the Ryan Field planned development to expand the softball facility, approving conditions that limit amplified sound to game days, require photometric compliance and authorize enforcement remedies.
The Evanston Planning & Development Committee on July 28 approved Ordinance 47-025, a minor adjustment to the Ryan Field planned development that permits a substantially upgraded softball facility with new grandstands, higher light poles and amplified sound under conditions set by staff and the committee.
Mary Rasinski, a nearby resident who spoke online, urged the committee to treat the proposal as a planned development and to send it to the Land Use Commission for fuller public review, saying that "taking down grandstands and then building a 3 story stadium and then having 80 foot lights ... is a development, and things need to be looked at." Council members deliberated on whether the change should be considered "minor," noting a recently adopted standard distinguishing minor from major adjustments to planned developments.
City staff described conditions placed on the approval: the proposed lighting must meet photometric limits at the property line (staff cited an expected 0.01 foot-candle threshold at the property line), a dimmer control is required so lighting can be calibrated if impacts arise, and amplified sound will be limited to Northwestern University softball game days only (not practices or other events). Staff also said lights would be turned off within an hour after games conclude. The committee noted enforcement is available through the zoning code; Corporation Counsel Ruggie and staff pointed to Section 6-3-105, which allows daily fines for zoning violations with penalties ranging from $100 to $1,000 per day until corrected.
Council member Rogers moved the ordinance and it passed on a roll call vote with one abstention. The committee chair facilitated discussion but abstained from the vote because of employment at Northwestern University. Council members said they expected staff to enforce the conditions and use the dimmer and other controls if neighbors raise complaints.
Members who expressed concern said they supported the project but wished for the Land Use Commission to have a prior hearing; others said prior outreach and the site's existing use reduced the risk of new disruption. Staff and committee members said the U2 district text amendment adopted earlier provided a framework for addressing stadium-like uses and penalties for large events.
