Villages stadium lighting issue unresolved as 2 measures fail

A special Palmetto Bay Village Council meeting on June 23 called to act upon two items deferred from previous meetings regarding the divisive issue of stadium lighting ended with both items failing to win enough votes for approval.

First on the agenda was Resolution 4 A, sponsored by Mayor Shelley Stanczyk and deferred from the regular council meeting of June 2, which would have placed on the ballot in November a proposed amendment to the village charter putting limits on outdoor lighting for a number of private non-governmental facilities.

The resolution seemed to be in response to an ordinance change concerning outdoor lighting sponsored by Councilmember Tim Schaffer and deferred from the regular council meetings of May 5 and June 2. Schaffers proposed ordinance sought to give churches, schools and other private facilities the same access to outdoor lighting permits that public parks have.

Only about 40 people attended the June 23 meeting, perhaps due to bad weather, despite the previous expressions of strong viewpoints on both sides of the issue. During public comments, both opposition to and support for the proposed charter change were voiced.

First to speak was James McGhee of the Alexander Montessori School. He thought the charter amendment banning recreational field lighting would be unfair and would hurt his school.

We know this will apply primarily to private schools, McGhee said. It raises the question, why was the proposal made as an outright ban and not an election? That is to say, why should residents throughout the village be able to vote on a situation that will principally affect only the surrounding neighbors?

Next was David Singer, a local CPA and activist often speaking in favor of Palmer Trinity Schools expansion plans and against litigation costs caused by previous village zoning rulings placing limits on the school.

A number of churches have filed lawsuits, and won, against municipalities for discrimination, much like what is occurring in Palmetto Bay, began Singer, who also stated that no other cities in Miami-Dade County have lighting code requirements in their charter.

Singer displayed an aerial photo of the Palmer Trinity property and neighboring residences, and indicated Councilmember Joan Lindsays house.

Her house is approximately 100 feet away from Palmer Trinitys property line, Singer said. The village has spent over a million dollars in legal fees fighting Joan Lindsays and the CCOCIs war against Palmer Trinity and they want to continue. This charter will bring more litigation to the village and they just dont care.

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Villages stadium lighting issue unresolved as 2 measures fail