Botetourt County supervisors approved agenda item 22b, a special exception permit request to install field lighting at Greenfield Park, including waivers to allow pole heights up to 70 feet.

County planning staff explained the SEP requirement under lighting standards (cited as section 25-504 in the staff presentation) and recommended conditions that the proposed field lighting not exceed 70 feet and that lights automatically turn off no later than 10 p.m., except for events specifically approved by Botetourt County Parks and Recreation.

Parks and Recreation representative Mr. Morales told the board the vendor under consideration, Musco Lighting, offered a system with 24/7 remote monitoring and a 25-year maintenance-free warranty. He said the proposed layout calls for four 60-foot poles and two 70-foot poles because the two fields sit side by side and the photometric plans aim for an average illumination across both fields. "They provide 24/7... to turn lights on and off remotely," Morales said, noting both staff and the vendor can control schedules and respond to after-hours activation.

Neighbor Channing Preston, who lives at 120 Smithfield Way adjacent to the property, asked the board to target lower lighting (about 20 foot-candles) and shorter poles (50 feet) for a recreational field, saying "30 to 45 plus foot candles is more like what's in an office setting." Preston asked that exemptions for special events be clearly specified and that the existing row of Bradford pears be replaced with a more permanent buffer.

Staff responded that Musco’s photometric plans show rapid light falloff toward the tree line and that the proposed pole heights and fixture types were chosen to meet the design average while limiting spillage onto adjacent properties. After commission and board discussion, a motion to approve the SEP passed.

The approval includes the stated conditions (maximum 70-foot poles, automatic shutoff by 10 p.m. except county-approved events) and relies on vendor monitoring and staff scheduling to manage after-hours lighting.