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Neighbors press commission over drainage, lights and noise at Lucas Christian Academy expansion hearing
Summary
Residents near Lucas Christian Academy urged caution during deliberations, citing flood risks along Muddy Creek, light trespass from new fields and increased evening noise; engineers said detailed drainage and lighting studies will occur at the construction phase.
During the public hearing on the Lucas Christian Academy SUP amendment, multiple nearby residents urged the commission to attach stricter mitigation requirements or delay approval pending technical studies.
Chuck Ruckle, a Lucas resident, told the commission the area around the proposed football field overlays Muddy Creek and asked that "a registered professional engineer in the state of Texas with hydraulic experience" review and stamp plans before moving forward to avoid downstream flooding. Civil engineer Jeff Dolan replied that a detailed drainage study has not yet been completed at the master‑plan level and that the project team would conduct phase‑specific drainage and detention design at the construction‑plan stage to meet the city’s drainage ordinance.
Other nearby homeowners and renters raised worries about light pollution and evening noise if athletic fields are used more frequently. Commissioners pressed both staff and the applicant on how many nights lighting would be allowed; the applicant proposed limiting lighted events to Monday, Tuesday and Thursday evenings (to 9–9:30 p.m.), Friday to 10:30 p.m., avoiding Wednesdays and restricting most Saturdays, while requesting a small number of exception Saturdays per year for playoff or special events. Staff and the commission agreed that a photometric lighting plan and a more robust evergreen screening regime would be required as a condition of the SUP recommendation.
The commission adopted conditions that require a formal photometric lighting plan and a fast‑establishing live screen (25‑gallon evergreens, max 10‑ft spacing and a hedgerow), and tied detailed drainage verification to later construction submittals. These follow‑up technical reviews are required before building permits are issued.
