Bright Lights, Small Village
Hinsdale’s Park and Recreation Department has submitted an application for a text amendment to the Village’s zoning code that will permit the installation of stadium lights measuring up to 60 feet in height in 17 of Hinsdale’s 18 parks. Parks are zoned “Open Space” in our code, with the exception of Veeck Park, which is zoned “Institutional” and currently has approximately 70-foot lights. This text amendment will also permit stadium lights to be located with no setback requirement from the nearest property line. Close to 1,000 homes in Hinsdale face, directly abut or surround Open Space districts, including Burns Field and KLM, Peirce, Robbins and Brook Parks. If this amendment to the zoning code is passed, stadium lights, installed to accommodate nighttime activities, will bring increased traffic, noise and light pollution to park neighborhoods.
Hinsdale’s zoning code currently limits park lights to 15 feet in height. An exception in the code allows for 35-foot lights, provided there is a setback of at least 120 feet from the nearest property line. The 35-foot figure is based on Hinsdale's tree line and the maximum allowable height for buildings in the Downtown (B-2) business district. Stadium lights will tower 25 to 30 feet above both of those benchmarks. The Park and Recreation’s application seeks not only to increase the height of lights to 60 feet, but also to eliminate the setback provision in the existing code. The proposed text amendment does not contain language that protects green space or mitigates the issues associated with nighttime activities in Hinsdale's open spaces.
Better left in the dark
The Veeck Park complex includes three full-size athletic fields and one baseball diamond. Peirce Park, located just north of the Burlington tracks, has two additional baseball diamonds. Both of these parks have lighted fields to accommodate nighttime activities, but only Veeck Park is zoned to accommodate stadium lights. The Village claims that the proposed text amendment is necessary to bring lights that are currently non-compliant—specifically the lights at the Peirce Park baseball diamond and at the Hinsdale Pool--into compliance.
Opponents of the proposed text amendment maintain that this comprehensive change to the zoning code will do more harm to the Village than the “compliance” might achieve. In addition, they claim the existing facilities are not fully utilized. In spite of excess nighttime capacity, Village officials insist that additional stadium lights be added to other Hinsdale parks, so that everyone has the opportunity to play under the lights. Stadium light opponents believe Village officials can do more to maximize existing fields and facilities, without imposing additional burdens on parks and their surrounding neighborhoods. “This is not an issue about providing or denying our children athletic opportunities,” says Peirce Park neighbor and sports enthusiast Luke Stifflear. “We are fortunate to live in a community which currently has lighted athletic fields that far exceed the assets of surrounding communities. However, as residents and stewards of this beautiful community, we need to challenge our Village officials to fully utilize all lighted athletic and baseball fields and to limit their use to Hinsdale residents before changing the entire landscape of our Village.”
A shining example
The recent resolution of downtown Hinsdale’s parking shortage proves that the effective management of resources can save the community from seeking drastic, costly and unnecessary remedies. For years, merchants, residents and village staff struggled with the parking shortfall. Concerned residents worked closely with Police Chief Brad Bloom and his staff to evaluate the demand for and availability of existing parking spaces. Through their collaborative efforts, and Board action, the waiting list for commuter parking was reduced from over 800 requests to 0; a shopper lot was designated; additional commuter space was created on Chestnut Street; and timed meters were--and continue to be--analyzed and adjusted for optimal use. In other words, the problem was solved without the construction of an expensive parking garage in downtown Hinsdale.
The parking situation illustrates that Village officials can and should seek practical solutions to Hinsdale’s challenges. Resolution requires a commitment to fiscal responsibility on the part of the Village Board, and a willingness to work with residents who are concerned about the preservation of their small-town lifestyle and property values. The addition of 60-foot stadium lights to all of Hinsdale’s beautiful parks is a sweeping change that will have lights towering 30 feet above the tree line. Every resident in Hinsdale will be affected.
The Plan Commission will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, October 8, 2008 at 7:30 pm. This will be residents' next opportunity to get more information and publicly comment on this important issue.