WILLIAMSTOWN — Williams College is again seeking permission to erect 80-foot-tall lights at Weston Field to illuminate an artificial turf field – a project the college wants in order to extend the outdoor playing season when mud prevails.
The plan, which was withdrawn late last fall for further study by a college committee, will come before the Zoning Board of Appeals when it meets April 15. This is the second location the college has proposed. It first wanted to put the lights and field at upper Cole Field, a location met with vigorous objections, not only from neighbors but by some students who said Frisbee-playing there would be curtailed.
Some residents, primarily of The Knolls, have objected to the Weston location, and some Meacham Street residents have raised concerns about additional traffic.
“I just hope the college is sensitive to neighbors on The Knolls and chooses beautiful lights for that purpose, and I hope the college is sensitive to its neighbors on Meacham Street to make sure it doesn’t become a parking lot for student and coach access to the field.†Said Tom Costly of 110 Meacham on Tuesday. “Everything that I have been told by Harry Sheehy [athletic director] and Irene Addison [associate vice president for facilities], gives me great confidence on both of those points.â€
Members of the college’s astronomy department also objected to plans for the lights last fall, saying they feared “light pollution†would impinge on students’ astronomical observations. The new application specifies that “lights out†would be at 9 p.m., with few exceptions. That timing that would cut back astronomical observations by about two hours, as they now begin about 7.
In its project summary prepared by engineers Vincent P. Guntlow & Associates and filed at the town inspection offices, the college seeks a special permit to allow lights 80 feet tall — far taller than the 15 feet specified in the zoning bylaw.
The lights’ illumination will be restricted to the site, however, rather than spilling onto adjacent properties, according to the summary.
The college plans to use the lights for no more than 16 weeks a year — during the month of November, five weeks in January through mid-February (as temperatures allow), and from mid-February through the end of March. Lights would be turned off at 9 p.m. except for no more than six special occasions, such as Winter Carnival, occurring on Fridays or Saturday, when they would be lit until 11 p.m.
Those restrictions mean the college would not use the lights in summer, when the new field would receive minimal use. The Taconic Golf Club driving range would preclude daytime use of the field. After the driving range closes in the evening, the community may use the field for games.
In seeking the special permit, the college maintained that the project meets the criteria of “inherent infeasibility†for public outdoor recreation and that “all reasonable efforts have been made to avoid glare or light overspill onto residential premises.
The turf field would be at Weston, just west of the football field and track and north of the Taconic Golf Club, an area now used as a baseball field, which is 630 feet from the nearest non-college dwelling. There would be six light poles, each with multiple fixtures.
Musco Sports Lighting Inc. has developed a customized light design to keep light on the field and away from neighboring properties and to reduce glare, according to the college. Most light would be at or near the playing surface, with some illumination above the field.
The synthetic turf field is intended to be the location for intramural and club activities as well as intercollegiate lacrosse, field hockey and soccer games. Field hockey and women’s lacrosse teams prefer to play on synthetic turf and would use the new field as their primary playing area.
The New England climate often renders fields unplayable, particularly in the spring, preventing many outdoor sports activities. That increases demand for indoor practice space, extending practices in Towne Field House well past midnight, according to the application.
Access would be from the Latham Street entrance to Weston Field. Other access points would be secured except during football games or other major events, as a means of minimizing traffic on more residential streets.
The field, measuring 240 feet by 360 feet, would, according to the application, have no impact on environmentally sensitive areas, natural assets or valuable trees. Although final grading would extend by 5 feet into the 100-foot inner riparian zone of Christmas Brook, the field itself is outside that zone.
Several college officials were unavailable for comment because of spring break.
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Berkshire County to Elect DA, Governor, More in Primary Election
By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Pittsfield and beyond will elect a Massachusetts governor, attorney general, district attorney for Berkshire County, and other positions in the 2026 state election.
The City Council OK’d the issuance of the State Primary Election warrant, to be held on Tuesday, Sept. 1, and designated polling locations, hours, and police details.
The early voting period for the state primaries will be Aug. 22-28, while early voting for the Nov. 3 state election will be held Oct. 17-30.
In the primary election, voters choose the candidates they prefer for a political party to nominate in the general election held on Nov. 3.
The following positions will be on the primary ballot:
Senator in Congress for the Commonwealth
Governor for the Commonwealth
Lieutenant Governor for the Commonwealth
Attorney General for the Commonwealth
Secretary of State for the Commonwealth
Treasurer of State for the Commonwealth
Auditor for the Commonwealth
Representative in Congress for the First District
Governor's Councillor for the Eighth District
Senator in General Court for the Berkshire, Hampshire, Franklin, and Hampden Districts
Representative in General Court for the Second Berkshire District
District Attorney for Berkshire County
Register of Probate for the Berkshire Middle District
There are no challengers on the Democratic primary ballot for the re-election of the governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of state, treasurer and auditor.
On the Republican primary ballot, Michael Minogue of Hamilton and Brian Shortsleeve or Barnstable are vying for the gubernatorial nomination to take on Maura Healey in November; there are no other GOP primary races involving the Berkshires.
As there are no Republican nominees on the primary ballot for secretary of state or auditor, and no independent running in the general election, meaning the primary will essentially determine the winner in those two elections.
For U.S. senator, Edward Markey is being challenged by Seth Moulton in the Democratic primary; the winner will face off against John Deaton of Bolton, who is running unopposed in the Republican primary.
For the Massachusetts 1st District representative in Congress, Richard Neal is being challenged by Jeromie Whalen of South Hadley; the winner will face off against independent Nadia Milleron of Sheffield.
Closer to home, Paul Mark is unchallenged for state Senate and Tricia Farley-Bouvier and Leigh Davis for state representatives in the Democratic primary, but John Barrett III is being challenged by Andrew Fitch in the 1st Berkshire District.
Tara Jacobs of North Adams is being challenged as District 8 Governor's Councillor by Michael Fenton of Springfield.
There are no Republican or independent candidates for these seats so the winners will essentially be determined by the Democratic primary.
Polling locations for Pittsfield's 7 wards are as usual; polls will open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. during the primaries on Sept. 1.
Pittsfield polling locations:
Ward 1, Precinct A Reid Middle School, 950 North Street
Ward 1, Precinct B Reid Middle School, 950 North Street
Ward 2, Precinct A Morningside Community School, 100 Burbank Street
Ward 2, Precinct B Somerset Fire Station, 9 Somerset Avenue
Ward 3, Precinct A Providence Court, 379 East Street
Ward 3, Precinct B Egremont School, 84 Egremont Avenue
Ward 4, Precinct A Herberg Middle School, 501 Pomeroy Avenue
Ward 4, Precinct B Williams School, 50 Bushey Road
Ward 5, Precinct A Pittsfield Library, One Wendell Avenue
Ward 5, Precinct B Pittsfield Library, One Wendell Avenue
Ward 6, Precinct A Columbus Arms Housing, 65 Columbus Ave.
Ward 6, Precinct B Silvio 0. Conte Community School, 200 West Union St.
Ward 7, Precinct A Pecks Road Fire Station, 54 Pecks Road
Ward 7, Precinct B Capeless Elementary School, 86 Brooks Avenue
Cassidy Flynn scattered five hits in a complete-game effort in the circle as Lenox upset top-seeded Hoosac Valley, 3-2, in the quarter-finals of the Division 5 State Tournament. click for more
Brayden Durant struck out seven and walked one in a complete-game effort on the mound Saturday to pitch the Drury baseball team to a 6-0 win over Keefe Tech in the quarter-finals of the Division 5 State Tournament at Joe Wolfe Field. click for more
