Staples Field Lights Clear Legal Hurdle

The Westport Planning & Zoning Commission on Thursday reportedly approved a stipulated judgment settling a lawsuit filed against the Town in connection with a proposal to install stadium lights at the football field.

The judgment in essence restricts the hours that the field lights — once they are installed — can be used.

The Board of Education already approved the agreement during its meeting on Monday, according to a report in the Westport News.

The stipulated judgment and subsequent approvals follow nearly two years of litigation on the part of neighbors of the North Avenue school who objected to parts of the original proposal to install lights at the field. Most of those neighbors live on High Point Road, which intersects Long Lots Road to the east of the high school, according to the Westport News report.

As per the agreement, the town will be allowed to light the field until 10 p.m., at the latest, and is limited to using the lights for only eight athletic "special events" per year. In addition, the Staples football team will be allowed to use the lights until 8 p.m. on weekdays for practices, as well as for playoff games. What’s more the agreement allows for the lights to be used for two Saturday events per year.

Approval of the judgment means the can proceed to submit a site plan and special permit application for the field lights to P&Z for review early next year, according to the report.