Burke Hall Receives A New Lighting Plan

The Planning Commission reviewed Denison's latest proposal for changing the lighting of Burke Hall. An earlier plan was approved by the Commission on May 12 but was appealed before Village Council. Council remanded the plan back to the Planning Commission. Denison then revised the plan and re-submitted it. The latest plan was approved by a 4 to 0 vote.

Click here to view Village Staff's report on the latest plan.

The latest plan reduced the number of flood lights from 35 to 28, the number of wall-mounted lights - on only for events - from 3 to 2, and the number of pole lights from 3 to 2. They added 3 accent flood lights that will be on only during events. The number of new handrail lights remained at 3.

When asked, Art Chonko, Denison's facilities manager said, "Any of the accent lighting will be turned off at midnight." The handrail lights will remain on all night.

Planning Commission member, Tom Mitchell, commenting on the new plan, said, "I looked it over. Do you have enough light?"

Chonko replied, "Yes."

Previously, Denison had proposed placing 35 floodlights around the modernist performing arts center to light its windowless, white, brick exterior. The Planning Commission, without seeing a photometrics plan, had approved the plan at its meeting May 12.

In his appeal before Village Council over the previous plan, Jack Thornborough stated:

"My appeal is based, not on errors in law, but on errors in interpretation of the intent of the law. The AROD code provides you with the leeway to apply your judgment. The decision before you is basically a judgment call.

"You must decide if it makes good sense to light up Burke Hall in a manner unlike any other building in the historic district.

"You must decide if it is possible for the lighting to be "low level" according to the spirit of our law.

"You must decide if after forty years, the building suddenly requires more light so people can find it for events.

"You must decide if, of all the buildings to light up in the historic district, this is the one."

Click here to view Thornborough's complete appeal document.

When asked, Thornborough said, "This new plan reduces the light and the Planning Commission could actually evaluate it. This time Denison included a photometrics study. They should have included that with the first application."

Thornborough said he was glad he appealed the old plan. "Denison must follow the rules just like every other applicant."

"I only wish the Village would give me back my $150 appeal fee. I asked Council to review the Commission's first decision and Council's Law Director said they couldn't so I had to appeal."

"But they can," Thornborough said. "Look at the code. I guess the Law Director isn't familiar with our laws and that's a shame."

The Commissioners voted 4 to 0 to approve the latest plan.

See previous stories about the Burke Hall lighting: