Following more than three hours of public debate, the Sacramento (Calif.) County Planning Commission voted unanimously to approve a proposal to install stadium lights at Jesuit High School in Carmichael.
As reported by Stockton-based CBS affiliate KOVR, the school says the lights are needed to start playing Friday night football games, in addition to the other sporting events held at the stadium, but neighbors say that will create a neighborhood nuisance.
"A lot of the community is really struggling with 'How am I going to put my kid down to sleep?' " said Carmichael resident Elizabeth Hughes, whose home is located right behind Jesuit High School's Marauder Stadium. "The conditions of approval allow the school to have unlimited activities and games with the lights on."
The stadium has never featured permanent lights in the 60-year history of Jesuit High School. According to KOVR photojournalist James Taylor, the school tried out temporary lights for two Friday night football games last season and now wants to install four permanent LED light stands up to 100 feet tall to be used for football, soccer, lacrosse, and track and field competitions.
School president Chris Alling said the lights actually serve a safety purpose, allowing competitions to take place in cooler nighttime temperatures. "We think this is the right thing to do for kids," Alling said, as reported by Taylor. "I've seen people go down with heatstroke," he said. "I've seen people need to get put in ice baths — not just athletes but fans and coaches."
Temperatures on the stadium's synthetic turf field can exceed 140 degrees, according to players such as Jesuit quarterback CJ Lee. "You have to take extra water breaks," Lee said. "You have to take extra precautions to make sure none of us get heatstroke."
Meanwhile, neighbors fear night games will create a neighborhood nuisance with more noise and traffic, and opponents say they are now considering an appeal to the board of supervisors, KOVR's Taylor reported.
"Our community is held hostage and impacted by something that we didn't choose and we can't escape from," Hughes said.
