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Council tables school athletic-field turf and 70-foot lighting request for more technical visuals and fixture specs
Summary
Council tabled a conditional-use amendment from the school district that would convert a practice field to synthetic turf with four 70-foot lights, asking staff and the applicant to return with fixture specifications, renderings and topographic visualizations comparing alternative pole heights and shielding to assess dark-sky impacts.
The Grant City Council voted to table a conditional-use permit amendment requested by the school district to convert a multipurpose field to synthetic turf with four 70-foot light poles, perimeter fencing and netting. Jennifer (Speaker 15, staff) told the council the application lacked detailed fixture specifications and did not specify hours of operation; she recommended either passing the draft permit with conditions or tabling to collect further materials.
Neighbors raised concerns about light height, potential visibility above tree lines and whether a PA system or new bleachers were proposed; Barb Deffrin (Speaker 18), superintendent of Mahtomedi Public Schools, said the field would primarily serve junior-varsity and youth-association events and that the district is not proposing a public-address system. The applicant’s engineer (Artemas Setson, Speaker 10 of Wold Architects and Engineers) explained that taller poles with downcast fixtures can reduce light spill and allow fewer fixtures, while lower poles require more fixtures and can increase lateral light spill.
Council members asked staff and the applicant to produce comparative renderings and topographic overlays showing the field with alternative lighting schemes (for example, four 70-foot poles vs. six 65-foot or six 50-foot poles) and to provide exact fixture cut-off specifications. After discussion, the council voted to table the application so staff can review the newly submitted materials, obtain clearer renderings and return a resolution with options at the next meeting.
Next steps: staff will work with the applicant to prepare detailed lighting specifications, comparative visualizations and a proposed set of permit conditions specifying hours of operation and fixture performance.
