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DARIEN, Conn. The Darien Junior Football League is attempting to get temporary lights used for practices raised from 20 feet to 30 feet. The towns current zoning regulations only allow recreational lights to be 20 feet.
Darien Junior Football League (DJFL) teams are allotted time on the Darien High School stadium field to practice in the fall after the high school teams are done with their practices. The high school teams usually finish around 6 p.m. or 7 p.m.
The DJFL believes that by raising the height of the lights, the teams would be able to more effectively utilize the field. The group said the change would make practices safer.
The board of the DJFL is constantly pursuing safety as one of our three primary goals for both players and coaches on the field, said Jim Coley, president of the DJFL. We, as a board, feel we need to constantly be improving our equipment, training, methodologies and field facilities.
Coley said amending the towns zoning ordinance to allow lights to be extended would create a higher, more downward angular light direction that reduces glare and more light on the field that would not disturb surrounding neighbors.
Some neighbors have complained about the lights, so the DJFL had experts conduct tests on the Darien High School field with taller lights. The group said it found that raising the lights the extra 10 feet did not create more trespass light on surrounding properties.
It is a rare win-win for our players and coaches and also the neighbors, Coley said.
The Darien Board of Education said it approved of the change, and the DJFL has now gone to the planning and zoning commission. A public hearing was held on May 22 and will continue on June 26 at 8 p.m. at town hall.
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