Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Parks And Recreation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
City planning commission approves minor amendment to allow athletic field lighting at W.T. White High School
Summary
The commission approved a minor amendment allowing athletic field lights at W.T. White High School (PD 696). Dallas ISD and school leaders said the lighting improves student safety and increases practice time; nearby residents urged limits and mitigation. Staff recommended approval; commissioners voted to approve the amendment.
The Dallas City Planning Commission approved a minor amendment to Planned Development District 696 to allow athletic field lighting at W.T. White High School, after public testimony from school officials, students and neighborhood residents.
Lance Curry, Dallas ISD trustee for the area, and W.T. White principal Beth Wing described the lighting as a safety and programmatic improvement that will give students and community members more usable hours on the field, allow band and drill practice without sacrificing classroom time and reduce safety risks during evening hours. Athletic coordinator and head coach Bryson Lewis and residents who support the plan also spoke in favor, noting the lights will expand practice and program access for roughly 2,000 students.
Opponents said they were concerned about hours, light spill and community notice. Several neighbors said they were not aware of the item before the hearing and asked for conditions, including earlier shutoff times and stronger assurances against light spill. Community speakers acknowledged the district had agreed to time limits in recent outreach and said district staff offered to provide a letter clarifying intended hours.
Staff and Dallas ISD described the fixtures as modern, cutoff designs limited to the field and noted district policy to limit use; Dallas ISD said the planned hours would generally be limited to 6 a.m.–10 p.m. and that campus staff will have manual override controls and timers. Dallas ISD officials said campuses already using the same lights have not generated formal city complaints.
Action: Commissioner Hall moved to approve the minor amendment (MZ25‑27) per staff recommendation; Commissioner Wheeler seconded. The motion passed following a roll call vote (ayes). The commission recorded that Dallas ISD and school officials would provide a community letter describing operation hours and that campus operators will use timers and key‑switch overrides to manage the lights.
Ending: Commissioners and district staff said they would continue post‑hearing coordination with neighbors; staff noted the ministerial nature of the minor amendment review but recommended continued outreach on operations to reduce impacts on adjacent residents.
