HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The matter of lighting the baseball and soccer fields at the USD 308 Sports Complex along 23rd and Severance will be before the Hutchinson City Council during the next agenda session on Tuesday.

The matter comes to the council on the recommendation for approval by the planning commission. But that was after nearly two hours of discussion and comments from the public, most against the proposal.

When the ball fields and soccer complex were constructed, a conditional use permit was approved that stated no organized baseball games could be held at the baseball fields and no lighting would be installed. Now, 11 years later, the school district wants to do just that. The lighting exceeds the minimums for intrusion onto private properties and a new conditional use permit is needed. The council has already approved a similar CUP for lighting of Don Michael Field along 17th Avenue.

Tuesday’s City Council meeting begins at 9 a.m. at the Hutchinson city offices.