Update 3/12/07. This lighting has been approved by the City with the limitations that the lights be turned off by 10:00 PM and that additional buffering be provided to prevent excessive light on adjacent properties.

Bees Landing Recreation Center is a new park being developed by the City of Charleston primarily for the 12,000 residents expected to live in the Grand Oaks and adjacent areas. The land was obtained in 2003 and design has been in progress since that time. Public meetings were held in 2004 and 2005 to obtain input from local citizens. This Report concerns a Public meeting held January 31 2007 to present the lighting system proposed for the sports fields.

Click on this map to enlarge.

Bees Landing Recreation Center.
Public Meeting January 31 2007.

About 70 people attended this meeting, held in the West Ashley High School Auditorium.
The meeting was conducted by Paul Weiters of the City Parks Dept.
Councilmen Larry Shirley and Deborah Morinelli were present.

Penny Ashley Described the Zoning issues concerning lighting the park.
She stated that lighting is permissible. This meeting is to discuss the effects of the lighting.

The lighting fixtures will be mounted on 70 ft. poles in the locations shown on the map above. Four poles around the football field and 10 around the two ball fields. The tennis courts will be lit with fixtures on 20 ft poles.
These lighting fixtures will be of an advanced design developed in 2005 by MUSCO Lighting, which have shrouds to prevent direct view of the lamp sources from outside the lit area and reflectors to direct all of the light onto the field surface.
As many of the existing trees as possible will be left on the outskirts of the park and new trees such as live oaks will be planted to further cut down on stray light.

Slides were shown of the location of the proposed lights and diagrams indicating that the illumination would be less than 1 ft candle for the closest areas on Hamilton Grove, Blue Jasmine Lane and Bent Hickory Rd. The 1 ft candle value is calculated without taking into account the effect of the trees.

Question and Answer Period:

Hours of lighting? Lights will only be on when games are in progress. Usually before 9:00 PM All off by 10:00 PM Usually Monday to Thursdays and Saturday only. Only the Tennis courts which are in use will be lit.

Safety concerns: The park is to serve residents of the immediate area. Do not expect large numbers of people from outside the area. There is no stadium in the plans. Other City parks have not had any safety problems.
-- Gates: No plans as yet but electronic security will be considered. No perimeter fence is planned

-- Traffic problems. The new road from the park to Bees Ferry Blvd will be complete before the park opens. The park in primarily intended for local residents and it is expected that many will walk or bicycle to the park. Footpaths can be provided later to give access from locations around the park such as Bent Hickory Rd or Monarch Ct. if the Home Owners Associations wish.

Some of the audience said that they did not want a park with all the sports facilities but would prefer simply an open space for walking, wanting only peace and happiness. There were some complaints that the builders did not tell them of the proposed park, rather that the area would remain wetlands. They are worried about the noise and public safety.

Councilman Larry Shirley brought the meeting to order, asking how many of the audience did not want the park and how many did want it. the attendees seemed split about 50/50

Persons worried about the lights were advised to check the lighting at Hannahan Park which has similar lighting with no problems.

Note: This report is my personal impressions of this meeting. It is not an official report by any Home Owners Association or any other body.
If anyone has a different impression of this meeting send it to Graham Phillips for publication on this page.
Graham Phillips
February 1 2007. Rev.5/15/07