Schools
Stadium Lighting Changes Approved By Alexandria City Council
TC Williams can pursue lighting for athletic fields under the condition that it reduces light spillage impacts into surrounding areas.
ALEXANDRIA, VA—On Saturday, the Alexandria City Council voted 6-1 to allow lighting at T.C. Williams High School's Parker-Gray Stadium and other athletic fields. The chance to the city's zoning ordinance allows an increase in the light pole height to up to 80 feet under the condition of reducing light glare impacts in surrounding areas.
Under the amendment, the school can add lighting once submitting a proposal with lighting proven to minimize light spillage. The proposal would go to City Council after a public input process.
The council did make some changes to the proposal before it was passed. Stadium lighting is required to be off at 10:15 p.m. on Friday and Saturday nights and 9:45 p.m. on other nights, according to WTOP.
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T.C. Williams does not have stadium lighting due to an agreement made with nearby residents in the 1960s. When T.C. Williams construction forced residents out of their homes, the city gave them new homes in return for the no lights condition. The agreement was last renewed in 2012.
T.C. Williams is the only public high school in Northern Virginia without stadium lighting, according to a city staff report. The lack of lighting prevents the football team from playing Friday night games at home.
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Alexandria City Public Schools cites growing student enrollment and the need for scheduling sports games beyond daylight hours. Aside from lighting, the school district plans to upgrade the stadium with an eighth lane on the track, replacing artificial turf, the concession stand, the scoreboard and the press box, adding restrooms and a ticket booth and upgrading the sound system. The sound system upgrade in particular seeks to direct more sound away from nearby homes.
Despite the lighting amendment approved by the city, the proposal spurred a lawsuit from residents. The group of nearby residents claim the city and the school district are violating the "no lights" agreement, WJLA reported.
MORE COVERAGE:
- Stadium Lighting At T.C. Williams Goes To City For Approval
- Residents Sue Over Lighting At T.C. Williams Stadium: Report
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