Henderson OKs campus’ bid for lights at ballfield

Greg Harman

Friday, Sept. 29, 2000 | 10:41 a.m.

The Community College of Southern Nevada should be able to install 80-foot stadium lights at its Henderson campus baseball field, the city's planning commission decided Thursday.

But two angry residents plan to oppose the school's application when it comes before the City Council next month.

Mark Jevack said his property has already been flooded by the stadium lights from Foothill High School, found to have been improperly installed earlier this year after residents complained. Now he worries his home will be illuminated like an "amusement park" if CCSN's application to light the stadium at 700 College Drive in the Highland Hills area is approved.

"I've had problems with the high school lights and I'm concerned I'm going to have problems with them as well," Jevack told commissioners. "I don't want an amusement park in my back yard."

Ron Hall, speaking on behalf of the school, said at the back wall of the stadium -- where the back yards of the nearest homes are located -- the lights would be similar to that of a street light.

Commissioner Guy Van Wyck asked Hall if the lights would make it bright enough to read a newspaper in the back yard of one of the homes.

Hall responded: "Not for me."

He then added that shields would be used to help direct the lights onto the field and away from surrounding areas.

Recalling the problems with the lights at Foothill High School, located a short distance from CCSN's Henderson campus, commissioners asked if the stadium was located uphill from any homes. City planners said it was not.

But that wasn't comfort enough for Bill Taratko, a lighting engineer and opponent of the project, who says he is already collecting school baseballs in his yard.

"They say they have one good hitter," he said of the school's response to his complaints. "He hits a lot of balls."

Anticipating the problems they will have with the proposed lighting, Taratko and his wife have even discussed moving. But the trick will be finding someone who is "an incredible baseball fan," he added.

The stadium lights at Foothill High School were replaced by the Clark County School District after an investigation found they had been improperly installed. But due to the stadium's location above neighboring residential communities, the light pollution, and the resulting complaints, continued.

Replacement lighting for Foothill High School, and blinds to block potential light spillage, are expected to be installed in coming weeks -- eight months after the city first ordered the lights be used only twice a week.