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 18 innings. We'll continue to play baseball after 9:00 p.m. if the game goes late," he told commissioners while stressing the school's intent to begin games earlier in the evening.

Neighbors said the lighting request conflicts with protections the 1994 master plan set when the field was located where it currently sits. Cathy Wallace, who identified herself as a River Oaks resident involved in the 1994 discussions, told the commission the earlier approval included a set of stipulations intended to protect nearby streets and homes, including a prohibition against lights and limits on non-school uses. "We are asking as homeowners that this commission uphold the promise that the 1994 commission gave us to protect our neighborhood," Wallace said.

Residents also raised operational concerns: parking spilling onto Haile, an often-open rear gate, noise from frequent games, and potential property-value impacts if lighting enables year-round or frequent evening use. Bruce Williams, who lives on Greenleaf Court, said he opposed the lights in part because of the cumulative effects: "If lights are installed on the field, I think it's likely that they'll be on all four seasons during the year at some point, and maybe multiple nights a week."

Athletic staff described technical and operational controls they said would limit non-school use. Chad Leggate, Brentwood Academy assistant athletic director, said the lights are fast-switching and will be controlled by the athletic department and baseball coaches. "The people that are going to have control are the athletic staff and the baseball coaches," Leggate said, adding that the school pays to operate the lights and has no interest in providing uncontrolled community use.

Commissioners framed the decision around code compliance. Multiple members said the photometric plan met the lighting standard the commission must apply, while several also expressed concern about long-standing neighborhood enforcement issues and the need for the city to address alleged lapses in conditions tied to earlier master-plan approvals. "We're told the site plan revision request must comply with the code; that's what we have to compare it to," a member of staff told the commission during the motion discussion.

After questions and discussion, Commissioner Crosley moved to approve the revised site plan; Commissioner Petrucci seconded. The chair called the vote and the motion passed. The commission then moved on to routine business.

Votes at a glance: minutes approval ' The commission approved corrections to prior minutes; motion moved by Commissioner Baines, seconded by Commissioner Travis; the record shows three abstentions (Commissioners Crosley, Crowley and Statnick) and the minutes were approved. Consent agenda ' The commission approved eight consent items as a block (minor site plans, final plats, a limited-duration event and revised final plats); motion moved by Commissioner Behn, seconded by Commissioner Crosley; chair announced the consent block carried nine to nothing. Lighting site-plan revision ' Motion to approve the Brentwood Academy revised site plan for baseball-field lighting moved by Commissioner Crosley and seconded by Commissioner Petrucci; commission voted to approve (roll-call/tally not specified in the transcript).

The commission record and the meeting packet show the lighting plan is designed to meet the city's 3-footcandle limit at property lines, employs downward-directed and shielded fixtures, and will be operated from a secure control cabinet. Neighbors asked the city to review and enforce prior master-plan conditions tied to the field's original 1994 approval; commissioners and staff indicated those enforcement questions were separate from the lighting-review standard the commission applied at the meeting.

The commission adjourned after routine reports and scheduling items. Brentwood Academy and neighborhood representatives said they had held outreach meetings in October and late-October and that dialogue would continue.