Brentwood planning panel approves Brentwood Academy baseball field lights despite neighborhood objections

The Brentwood Planning Commission voted Nov. 3 to approve a revised site plan permitting installation of shielded lights at Brentwood Academy's baseball field, after hearing more than an hour of technical briefing and public comment.

City staff recommended approval, telling commissioners the lighting design "ensures illumination will not exceed 3 foot candles at the property lines," that all fixtures would be shielded and operated from a secure control cabinet, and that the plan met the code requirements the commission must apply.

Brad Slayton, representing Reagan Smith Associates, told the commission the applicant met with neighbors in October and that the photometric plan showed most of the perimeter at or below moonlight levels. "Our goal here is simple: provide a safe, well lit environment for our students to practice and compete without having to leave class early and finish in unsafe conditions," Slayton said. He said the plan peaks at about 1.9 footcandles at a small portion of the perimeter and that the city code limit is 3 footcandles.

Brentwood Academy headmaster Dr. Patterson and athletic staff attended and answered questions. Dr. Patterson said the school intends to start most scheduled games at 6 p.m. and that exceptions would be made if games run long. "We shut a game off'I mean, the Bills' game went to…