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Residents urge limits on lights, parking and noise as council begins zoning changes for school sports
Summary
At a first reading, Shaker Heights City Council heard residents urging tighter rules—on lights, parking, drainage and public-address systems—after staff proposed making outdoor school recreation facilities a conditional use requiring traffic, landscape and hours standards.
Residents packed public comment to oppose night lights, large bleachers and added traffic near University School as the Shaker Heights City Council opened first readings on a zoning text change for outdoor recreation facilities.
Tony Coyne, an attorney representing Protect Our US Neighborhoods, said neighborhood petitioners want stricter code language and specific standards. “Again, my name is Tony Coyne and I'm an attorney with Mansur Gavin and I represent Protect Our US Neighborhoods,” he said, and urged the council to tighten parking and traffic rules, add definitions for stadiums and bleachers, require standards for plantings and fencing around parking, address drainage and limit public-address system volume. Several neighbors told the council that a 900‑seat facility with nighttime lights would be disruptive to adjacent homes and could harm property values. “I think the whole whole argument for having this facility developed and lighting at night, I think that this is disruptive to the neighboring residence,” resident Bill Newby said.
Director Braverman summarized the proposal as a continuation of a temporary ordinance enacted Dec. 15, 2025 and said the permanent amendment would require outdoor recreation facilities in institutional zones to obtain a conditional‑use permit. “The proposed ordinance requires outdoor recreation facilities to obtain a conditional use permit,” she said, and staff described specific standards included in the draft: no group activities before 7 a.m. or after 10 p.m. on weekdays (9 a.m.–10 p.m. on weekends), a prohibition on lighted outdoor recreation facilities unless otherwise approved, and required traffic/parking and landscape plans.
Council members asked staff whether existing noise and stormwater rules would apply; staff said the city’s noise ordinance and recent stormwater regulations already provide enforcement tools but that the conditional‑use process would allow planning staff and the Planning Commission to require traffic analyses and other site‑specific mitigation. The ordinance remains at first reading for further revisions and a future public hearing.
