Radnor commissioner castigates Villanova over stadium light glare
RADNOR >> What had been a routine meeting between Villanova University officials and nearby residents turned testy when the issue of stadium lights glaring into people’s windows arose.
Commissioner Sean Farhy said that earlier in the meeting a Villanova official had touted being a good neighbor and encouraging students who live off campus to keep the noise down. Farhy asked about decreasing light pollution, too.
Farhy read a 2012 email from Chris Kovolski, Villanova assistant vice president for government relations and external affairs, apologizing to township officials for the light complaints then and saying, “I am aware of what I have said in the past yet our actions have continually failed to demonstrate that commitment. I am embarrassed and furious that the situation has deteriorated to this point. It is unacceptable that you and the neighbors have every right to be upset. I take full responsibility.”
In that email, Kovolski said the lights will be on a timer and will shut off at 9:15 p.m., except in the case of “varsity athletic games” that have late starting times. That email also said that the lights will not go on before 7 a.m.
Farhy said that Kovolski then wrote an email in September 2017 saying that high demand for the field has created a demand to use the stadium for longer periods and “the university plans to use the stadium for intermural and recreational activities on some nights as late as 10:30 p.m.”
“So you obviously reneged on that,” said Farhy. “You made a promise. You always say, ‘Good neighbor. Good neighbor.’ I heard (a Villanova official) speak of decibel levels and what it’s like trying to keep that down. How about lumen or lux? Trying to keep that down, as well? So, I guess I want to know because I’ve gotten multiple calls and emails from the residents, I want to know what changed. If it was unacceptable, your words, back in 2012, why is it acceptable now?”
“What’s changed, other than you need the fields?” Farhy asked. “It is extremely disrespectful to the neighbors…You make a promise and you pull it away.”
Kovolski said that Farhy did not have “historical context.”
“The evening on 2012 was probably one of the worst days I’ve had on my job,” said Kovolski. “We had a series of issues with our stadium lights. At the time we were using them to support various activities on campus … We just couldn’t turn them off when we were supposed to. It was embarrassing … It was one of those things were we couldn’t get out of our own way. That email was a low point. It was embarrassing.” They took drastic measures “which came at the expense of not just supporting our intermural and recreational program but a lot of the communities use of the stadium. However, that was what was needed at the time. We needed to demonstrate that we took this seriously.”
Then last fall, the discussed intermural programs and how their students were looking for activities and that they have different schedules.
“Our facilities are used by varsity programs during the day,” he said. “And what used to be the way our facilities were used by our athletic programs in the past isn’t that way anymore.” The basketball, football and lacrosse teams all train year around now, he said.
They discussed what they could do to support student and community needs. They decided to extend the lights by an hour and a half to meet demand. Then they had turnover in athletic staff and did not keep the lights on later last year but started this fall.
“I don’t know that I would consider it reneging,” said Kovolski. “I can see how you might see it that way.”
Farhy disagreed.
“It is. You set a policy and you changed a policy. You say that it’s unacceptable. I get it. You’re going to eat a little crow here and say, ‘My bad. I’m sorry.’ It’s changed and try to move it forward. To me, that’s unacceptable. You make a policy. You want to be a good neighbor. You keep your pledges.”
The time that lights are on will creep up, he said. Farhy said that he loves Villanova but “sometimes you may have too much power. It’s David versus Goliath when it comes to size and scope. And some entity needs to keep you in check.”
Kovolski said that he “certainly doesn’t see it as David versus Goliath … We own our responsibilities…We are trying extremely hard—”Farhy interrupted, “That’s not true, Chris. No, Chris, it’s not true.”
Kovolski told Farhy that rather than “engaging in a productive conversation, you’d rather take it to a forum like this… and sort of weaponized the information rather than have a productive dialogue.”
Commissioner Richard Booker told Kovolski that he said something before and changed it.
“But it’s not just at nighttime,” Booker said. “You have the lights on at 5 o’clock in the morning. We’ll have to pass a law that says you have to have them off…Can we bring it back to 9:30 p.m., yes or no?”
Kovolski said, “I don’t believe we can … Certainly, we’re not deaf to this issue. We’re trying to figure out internally what our needs are.” They do want to
“I am aware of what I have said in the past yet our actions have continually failed to demonstrate that commitment. Iam embarrassed and furious that the situation has deteriorated to this point. It is unacceptable that you and the neighbors have every right to be upset. I take full responsibility.” — 2012 email from Chris Kovolski, Villanova assistant vice president for government relations and external affairs
use their stadium for a variety of events, he said. The day the lights were on until 10:38 p.m., they were supporting a community event, the Buddy Walk, he said. He said it was a “huge oversight” not to have communicated that to residents ahead of time. He said they are trying to figure out a fairly consistent schedule for the lights.
A woman told Kovolski that technology now to install lights that don’t shine outside into the neighborhood.
Kovolski said they are looking into those. But on rainy and foggy nights, lights will be refracted outside the stadium. Also, the university opens its doors to the community to use its facilities but there are also liability issues.
Resident Martin Caulfield suggested the university work with the township on a new light pollution ordinance.
Farhy said the commissioners and solicitor are working on a “zero light spill” or “dark sky policy.”
“Light pollution is light pollution,” said resident Martin Caulfield.