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Regular Planning Commission Meeting <br />Minutes – Wednesday, March 5, 2014 <br />Page 12 <br />Member Murphy concurred with Member Boguszewski, and spoke in support of the <br />562 <br />motion. Member Murphy noted that Section 7 of the staff report provided conditions that <br />563 <br />would need to be met for foot candle light, regardless of the height of the poles, including <br />564 <br />those on the west end of the property line. <br />565 <br />Member Stellmach spoke in support of the motion, stating that he was sympathetic to the <br />566 <br />public comments; but saw the information provided in the plan and photometric plan to <br />567 <br />create the lowest lighting necessary to light the field and abide by the standards and <br />568 <br />conditions as outlined. Member Stellmach also recognized the alternate process for <br />569 <br />residents to address their sound concerns and other concerns as noted. <br />570 <br />Chair Gisselquist spoke in support of the motion, stating that the lighting plan appeared to <br />571 <br />be proscriptive and mandated according to that plan; with alternatives for residents to <br />572 <br />address their concerns if existing sound issues are evident. Although Chair Gisselquist <br />573 <br />personally questioned if some of those concerns may be more of a personality issue that <br />574 <br />is serving to create an ugly situation, he stated that he would need hard facts to back up <br />575 <br />any allegations that the day-to-day operations at Northwestern and the athletic fields <br />576 <br />were degrading property values. Chair Gisselquist opined that the proposal seemed to <br />577 <br />him reasonable and it appeared that Northwestern was attempting to be a good neighbor. <br />578 <br />Member Cunningham spoke in support of the motion; but thanked tonight’s speakers for <br />579 <br />coming out and also thanked college representatives for their attendance and for their <br />580 <br />professionalism even with apparent conflicts among those testifying. Member <br />581 <br />Cunningham again clarified that tonight’s proposal was only related to lights, and urged <br />582 <br />the college to perform a voluntary sound assessment of the neighborhood to ensure they <br />583 <br />were in compliance with State Statute, and in an effort to address any legitimate <br />584 <br />concerns of the neighborhood if not already addressed with the redirected public address <br />585 <br />system being proposed, as well as previous actions taken with the existing system. <br />586 <br />Member Cunningham encouraged neighbors to look into the process outlined tonight to <br />587 <br />address any remaining concerns; opining that, as a Planning Commissioner, she did not <br />588 <br />feel those concerns were within her role to consider in her vote tonight. Member <br />589 <br />Cunningham noted the definitive map laid out for Northwestern to keep the lighting level <br />590 <br />in compliance with that photometric plan. Member Cunningham encouraged the <br />591 <br />neighbors and college to keep working together to address any ongoing noise issues if <br />592 <br />evidenced. <br />593 <br />Member Daire noted that a number of questions had been raised for him; and when he <br />594 <br />spoke with Mr. Callaghan, he indicated that it would be his desire that he not be able to <br />595 <br />see the lights. However, when looking at the St. Thomas University example, he noted <br />596 <br />the fall off of light on either side of the lights, with those light standards, as proposed for <br />597 <br />this field, to focus on the field. Member Daire noted that, while he could see lights, the <br />598 <br />level of that lighting was not something of concern to him if he could see lights, but not of <br />599 <br />any bother versus no lights at all, meaning no night games or impairing the safety of <br />600 <br />those playing at nights. Member Daire advised that he was sensitive to fields being <br />601 <br />higher than residences around the lake, especially on Shorewood Lane, especially as <br />602 <br />referenced to Mr. West’s comments. However, Member Daire noted that the stadium <br />603 <br />would be focused away from that neighborhood and not on the current periphery, which <br />604 <br />had to account for something related to noise mitigation as well. Member Daire opined <br />605 <br />that the argument that noise would be bouncing off dorms and back into the <br />606 <br />neighborhood seemed to him a weak argument. As a neighbor within 900 yards of the <br />607 <br />Roseville Area High School fields, which were probably larger than this field, Member <br />608 <br />Daire agreed with the comments of Mr. Willenbring, that this is an urban versus rural <br />609 <br />area, and that was part of the excitement of living in a city. While recognizing that others <br />610 <br />may not like that excitement, Member Daire expressed his understanding. On balance, <br />611 <br />Member Daire stated that he would be voting in support of the motion as far as lighting <br />612 <br />was concerned; and even if sound was included as part of that motion, he would remain <br />613 <br />inclined to still support the motion. <br />614 <br /> <br />