If you don't like the noise a school makes then why buy a house so close to the school. The train that goes by on the track right next to the field and shown in your video makes a lot more noise. I guess train noise is not as bad a school kids if you bought a home so close to a train track as well. Maybe all those that live on Main St., Park Ave and Western Ave and have to listen to traffic noise ALL DAY should sue the village for letting cars drive on the streets.

The Glen Ellyn zoning code lists these uses as the ONLY permitted uses in the CR (Conservation/Recreation) zoning district:

"Only open space uses and PASSIVE recreation shall be allowed by permitted use in this district. ALL buildings, structures and PRINCIPAL ACTIVITY AREAS shall be allowed by SPECIAL USE only, unless specifically waived by the Building & Zoning Official upon review and approval of the Director of Planning & Development.

1. Agriculture, including incidential agricultural structures, but excluding livestock operations.
2. Open space, PUBLIC park and playground."

SPECIAL USES....

5. Public or private recreational facility where buildings do not occupy more than 10% of the site area."

Village Zoning Code 10-4-3

People who highly value lighted football fields (or think that some how lights correlate with higher ACT scores) should have bought a house in Naperville!

Maria , it has been proven over and over that doing extra curriculars improves ACT scores. Thereiare tons of studies proving it. Why do you want the kids on buses, being shlepped to other fields all over town? Which is what is happening now. Now, will lights stop all the bussing? No, but every kid who can practice and then leave, the better!

I never would assumed in a community ad nice as this that the kids would be constantly bussed to and fro! But, buying near a large public high school, you better expect kids and noise! The trains still make more noise than anything!

I am sure if I hired a lawyer to sift through paper work he could find a loop hole in wording in anything to interpret it as a zoning code violation. The fact remains if you live by a school there is noise and just from sports. I actually think the sound of kids and kids participating in sports (as was shone in the video) is very pleasant. If that is something that bothers you regardless of what district you "buy into" then you shouldn't live there. And good luck with that because I don't know that many communities pride themselves on not having schools. And unless you are a completely childless home I don't know why you would object to the district that your child attends keeping up with the advancements that are all over the country, not just "Naperville".

The video posted is arguing the noise standard because they are now trying to claim a zoning code violation in the installation of artificial turf at Memorial Field. That field was in use as a practice field for years before the turf was installed so it shouldn't be a surprise to surrounding residents who purchased homes near it that there is activity there.

Maria-
Re-read your comments.  Do you really think most people care about all the back and forth on variances, zoning request changes, ordinances, and possibly compensating people for their "loss" because of lights on a field.?

Change can be good for this community-

Yesterday's article indicated that the school had followed proper zoning codes, according to the village. It is my understanding that the "intent" of the zoning code is the key variable for consideration. It is also my understanding that "sport courts" were intended for transient situations, and Memorial Field is not transient.

This field had been used for sports LONG before the artificial turf was put in, so what is your arguement Maria, I don't understand???

Go West!

Hey Glen Ellynites!

I just wanted to remind everyone to be civil. It's absolutely fine to disagree but let's not get personal. I encourage everyone to use their first and last names, too. If you use your full name it makes you think twice about what you post. I know some of you disagree, and that's OK but let's make this a place where we can post our opinions without it getting ugly. At the end of the day, I'm sure most of you, no matter what side of the issue you're on, are neighbors and friends, so don't let this issue get in between your relationships. My rule of thumb is: If you wouldn't say it to one another on the block outside your homes then you probably shouldn't post it. I'm not discouraging comments, let's just keep it civil! Thanks everyone (now back to some football).

I'm not comfortable with the argument "You bought your house near a school, so what do you expect" line of reasoning.
I think people bought near the school that existed. They did not see a lighted stadium. they did not hear an augmented sound system. They saw trees, some tennis courts, and kids from the neighborhood as well as the school able to play on the grass. Now the neighborhood kids are locked out and the turf will have to be replaced every eight years. Give 'em a break, please.
To say they deserve whatever awful thing happens to that environment is a tad unfeeling. Sports don't dictate what we want. WE dictate what we want. We aren't helpless or passive. To argue that "it's inevitable" and "don't live near a school if you don't like what's happening" is not very neighborly. Nor is it true. We always get to say what we want. Let's have that referendum.
--Marilyn Wiedemann

Ditto the call for a referendum. Whether you are for or against it, this project impacts our town and neighborhoods too much to be decided by people who don't live here. Let the people who must live with the end result decide.

If it does on a referendum, then people who don't live near the school will be able to vote on lights or not. If you live behind the Walmart, do you really care if West has lights? It really is not an issue that would be up for a referendum anyway, that is what elections and running on a board is for, to vote for your peers. Do you want to run to a referendum on everything? Whether a new awning on a coffee shop should be 6 inches longer? This is why we have meeting and all the committees, they are doing their jobs. I have been to 3 or the 4 meetings and I can't believe how drawn out and petty Mr Ozog and company are making this. I wish I knew what he had in stake in this. The amount of money and time OTOF has spent makes me think there is more to it. I am not sure what, but there has to be something behind the scenes.

The light issue affects those with kids attending West currently and in the future whether they live close to the school or not. So the matter is not just for those that live around the field although it seems they think it is.

Are you calling for a referendum for Glen Ellyn residents only? So, people behind Walmart could vote on lights at West? Their kids go to South. Or, would it be for everyone who is in the district? Because, then people in Glendale Heights, Carol Stream, Lombard and more would vote on what is essentially a local issue. You think that the cost of a referendum is a good use of tax payer money?? Isn't this why we set our village government up, to look into these issues and not have everything go to a referendum and expend that kind of money?

Though OFOT group is not kidding about the traffic though. Yesterday, as I walked to the stadium to watch the Hilltoppers' homecoming victory, I had to wait for FOUR cars to pass before I could stroll across. It was crasy!!