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Council approves conditional-zoning amendment to allow taller lighting poles at McCormick Field
Summary
Council unanimously approved a conditional zoning amendment to permit two lighting fixtures up to 105 feet at McCormick Field to meet professional lighting standards for the Asheville Tourists ballpark; staff said the change aligns with the city's park use and comprehensive-plan goals.
The Asheville City Council unanimously approved a conditional zoning amendment to the institutional-conditional (INST-CZ) district for property at 30 Buchanan Place to permit two taller field-light fixtures at McCormick Field.
Will Palmquist, planning and urban design staff, presented the amendment and said the existing conditional zoning that enabled renovations at McCormick Field needs an additional technical modification to allow two lighting fixtures to exceed the existing 90-foot maximum. Palmquist said the fixtures were proposed to meet Major League Baseball lighting standards and the Illuminating Engineering Society guidance; proposed mounting heights for two fixtures were listed as 102 feet 11 inches and 99 feet 11 inches. The requested modification would allow a maximum of 105 feet, giving some design flexibility.
Palmquist told council the project remains consistent with the future land-use designation of parks and open space and supports comprehensive-plan goals to maintain and enhance public park facilities. The Planning and Zoning Commission reviewed the request on Oct. 1 and recommended approval unanimously; staff concurred.
With no members of the public signed up to speak, council opened and closed the public hearing and then moved to a motion finding the request reasonable, in the public interest, and consistent with the comprehensive plan. A motion to approve the conditional zoning amendment was seconded and carried unanimously.
Council did not discuss changes to the field program or event schedule; the amendment is narrowly focused on the technical height limit for specified field lighting. Staff said the revision would allow replacement of aging poles and fixtures while the site is under construction and avoid a separate permitting process later for the same work.
The record does not indicate any required follow-up beyond standard plan review and permitting steps under the conditional-zoning permit.
