Council Sets Burke Hall Appeal For Public Hearing

At its meeting last night, the Granville Village Council set a public hearing for its regular meeting on June 18, 2008 at 7:30 pm for an appeal of the Planning Commission’s decision on Denison University’s plan for lighting Burke Hall.

The Planning Commission’s decision to approve floodlighting the outside of Burke Hall was appealed to Village Council by village resident Jack Thornborough.

Denison University had proposed placing floodlights around the modernist performing arts center to light its windowless, white, brick exterior. The Planning Commission approved the plan at its meeting May 12.

Click here to view Denison’s revised Burke Hall lighting plan.

Click here to view Denison’s original (advertised) Burke Hall lighting plan.

Click here to view Denison’s original (advertised) Burke Hall lighting fixtures.

Granville’s Planning Code says that applications for buildings in the historic district, such as Burke Hall, should be evaluated according to several criteria including:

“Lighting is particularly important, both from the standpoint of providing light to the pedestrian as well as affecting the view of the building in the evening hours. Where possible, lighting should be either low level or screened from any potential of shining directly into pedestrians’ or auto drivers’ eyes.”

Denison wants to surround the building with 21 floodlights, including 6 aimed at the exterior walls and 4 others aimed at the entrances. The others would light up the landscaping with 4 aimed skyward into trees. The building is located between East College Street and West Broadway.

See previous stories about the Burke Hall lighting: