WILLIAMSTOWN — Williams College is again seeking permission to erect 80-foot-tall lights at Weston Field to illuminate an artificial turf field – a project the college wants in order to extend the outdoor playing season when mud prevails.
The plan, which was withdrawn late last fall for further study by a college committee, will come before the Zoning Board of Appeals when it meets April 15. This is the second location the college has proposed. It first wanted to put the lights and field at upper Cole Field, a location met with vigorous objections, not only from neighbors but by some students who said Frisbee-playing there would be curtailed.
Some residents, primarily of The Knolls, have objected to the Weston location, and some Meacham Street residents have raised concerns about additional traffic.
“I just hope the college is sensitive to neighbors on The Knolls and chooses beautiful lights for that purpose, and I hope the college is sensitive to its neighbors on Meacham Street to make sure it doesn’t become a parking lot for student and coach access to the field.†Said Tom Costly of 110 Meacham on Tuesday. “Everything that I have been told by Harry Sheehy [athletic director] and Irene Addison [associate vice president for facilities], gives me great confidence on both of those points.â€
Members of the college’s astronomy department also objected to plans for the lights last fall, saying they feared “light pollution†would impinge on students’ astronomical observations. The new application specifies that “lights out†would be at 9 p.m., with few exceptions. That timing that would cut back astronomical observations by about two hours, as they now begin about 7.
In its project summary prepared by engineers Vincent P. Guntlow & Associates and filed at the town inspection offices, the college seeks a special permit to allow lights 80 feet tall — far taller than the 15 feet specified in the zoning bylaw.
The lights’ illumination will be restricted to the site, however, rather than spilling onto adjacent properties, according to the summary.
The college plans to use the lights for no more than 16 weeks a year — during the month of November, five weeks in January through mid-February (as temperatures allow), and from mid-February through the end of March. Lights would be turned off at 9 p.m. except for no more than six special occasions, such as Winter Carnival, occurring on Fridays or Saturday, when they would be lit until 11 p.m.
Those restrictions mean the college would not use the lights in summer, when the new field would receive minimal use. The Taconic Golf Club driving range would preclude daytime use of the field. After the driving range closes in the evening, the community may use the field for games.
In seeking the special permit, the college maintained that the project meets the criteria of “inherent infeasibility†for public outdoor recreation and that “all reasonable efforts have been made to avoid glare or light overspill onto residential premises.
The turf field would be at Weston, just west of the football field and track and north of the Taconic Golf Club, an area now used as a baseball field, which is 630 feet from the nearest non-college dwelling. There would be six light poles, each with multiple fixtures.
Musco Sports Lighting Inc. has developed a customized light design to keep light on the field and away from neighboring properties and to reduce glare, according to the college. Most light would be at or near the playing surface, with some illumination above the field.
The synthetic turf field is intended to be the location for intramural and club activities as well as intercollegiate lacrosse, field hockey and soccer games. Field hockey and women’s lacrosse teams prefer to play on synthetic turf and would use the new field as their primary playing area.
The New England climate often renders fields unplayable, particularly in the spring, preventing many outdoor sports activities. That increases demand for indoor practice space, extending practices in Towne Field House well past midnight, according to the application.
Access would be from the Latham Street entrance to Weston Field. Other access points would be secured except during football games or other major events, as a means of minimizing traffic on more residential streets.
The field, measuring 240 feet by 360 feet, would, according to the application, have no impact on environmentally sensitive areas, natural assets or valuable trees. Although final grading would extend by 5 feet into the 100-foot inner riparian zone of Christmas Brook, the field itself is outside that zone.
Several college officials were unavailable for comment because of spring break.
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.
Your Comments
iBerkshires.com welcomes critical, respectful dialogue. Name-calling, personal attacks, libel, slander or foul language is not allowed. All comments are reviewed before posting and will be deleted or edited as necessary.
No Comments
Dalton Division Road Project in Pre-25 Percent Design Stage
By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
DALTON, Mass. — The town's engineers say there is still time to work through the Dalton Division Road project’s design and permitting process.
In December, the Select Board voted to advocate for Concept A, which would have sidewalks on both sides, a 5-foot bike lane in the road on both sides with a buffer, and a 2-foot painted buffer between the vehicle lane and in the bike lane. They also recommended the two-way stop control option.
The original vote would have been the most expensive and "certainly not" the engineer or the state's "preferred design," Town Manager Thomas Hutcheson said during a meeting in November.
During last week's Select Board meeting, Fuss & O'Neil project manager and senior traffic engineer Steve Savaria represented the options, explained potential obstacles, and demonstrated the next steps. Present board members have yet to vote on their final choice.
The project is still in the pre-25 percent design stage and is currently on the fiscal year 2029 Transportation Improvement Program list, so there is "plenty of time" to work out the details.
Since the original vote, some board members have shifted their opinion toward advocating for the most feasible and timely option with a "path of least resistance to get this project done."
Monument Mountain's Everett Pacheco took control of the race in the final mile and went on to a convincing Division 3 State Championship on Saturday at Fort Devens. click for more
Mila Marcisz ripped a shot from the top of the 18 that slipped just under the swing of teammate Adele Low and past the Mustangs keeper in the fourth minute of the second overtime to give Mount Greylock a 1-0 win. click for more
Mount Greylock dominated for much of the game, compiling a 17-4 advantage in shots on goal, not to mention numerous Mountie chances that went just wide or high of frame. click for more
Nora Schoeny, Gianna Love and Elyssa Scrimo Sunday led the Lenox girls cross country team to a narrow victory in the Division 2 race at the Western Massachusetts Championships at Stanley Park. click for more
Wahconah High senior Tim Kaley Sunday earned his second Berkshire Classic Championship by shooting a 77 at the Country Club of Pittsfield. click for more
