Alexandria council removes 80-foot cap on athletic-field light poles and approves Episcopal High School lights with conditions

The Alexandria City Council voted to amend the city’s zoning code to remove a specific 80‑foot height limit for light poles at congregate recreational facilities and dog parks, and approved a separate special‑use permit (SUP) allowing Episcopal High School to install field lighting with conditions intended to limit neighborhood impacts.

The zoning change and the school permit were linked in council debate: council members and staff said taller poles can focus light more precisely and reduce glare, while neighborhood groups and civic associations urged caution and fuller public engagement before erasing a fixed cap. The council approved the text amendment items and the Episcopal SUP after negotiating conditions that require the school to limit nighttime lighting, maintain community outreach and a phone line for complaints, and return to the council if implementation timelines change.

Why it matters: The text amendment alters how the city evaluates athletic‑field lighting in the future. Instead of a single numerical limit, councils and planning staff will evaluate each SUP against site‑specific criteria (setbacks, photometric plans, landscaping, hours and usage). Supporters say allowing taller poles can reduce…