The faces were somewhat drawn, and hands could be seen wiping the sleepiness out of the eyes.
Last week's Oak Park Zoning Board of Appeals meeting, which included a hearing on Oak Park and River Forest High School's stadium lights application, started at 7 p.m. and ended around 2 in the morning, still with no decision on the high school's application.
Whether the 5-member ZBA ran out of time or energy, it was clear most of the members and many of the people sitting in village hall chambers for those seven hours-give or take a five-minute break here and there during the evening-were worn out.
There was testimony from a zoning expert about the intricacies of zoning variances, photos and videos from neighbors showing cars zipping around OPRF during a Saturday football game, and satellite web photos showing OPRF and other schools with football stadiums near-and not so near-homes.
There were questions and cross-examination from lawyers representing the high school or the neighbors opposed to lights, and testimony from some of the neighbors themselves. The night's hearing was a continuation of a Nov. 12 meeting, where neighbors presented their case against lights.
The attorneys-Mark Sargis for the neighbors and Gene Armstrong for the high school-offered objections to certain testimony and evidence that seemed to sometimes frustrate board members.
So far, starting with the first hearing of OPRF's application by the ZBA on Oct. 3, there have been four hearings and more than 15 hours of time devoted to stadium lights before the zoning board.
Last Wednesday, lawyers from both sides rested their cases, though, with the stipulation that those opposed to lights who were unable to attend or unwilling to stay for that night's marathon meeting could still testify at the January meeting.
But, by all accounts from ZBA Chair Steven Rouse, there will be no more evidence presented and no additional public testimony taken beyond those in opposition.
"I don't want us to be accused of not giving the neighbors a chance to present their case," said Rouse toward meeting's end.
The ZBA is expected to deliberate and make a ruling on stadium lights at the next meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 8. That meeting is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. The attorneys will present written closing arguments to the board before the meeting, a standard practice for the board, Rouse told attorneys.
The ZBA will make a final decision on whether OPRF can install lights at its Lake Street stadium, though the neighbors have vowed to fight on. By that time, it will be close to two years, 22 months to be exact, since the District 200 Board of Education, by a razor thin vote of one, approved lighting the stadium.
But at last week's meeting, toward the end of the long session, neighbors and others offered public comments to the board, including objections and reasons for not installing lights, which they've made loudly and passionately to the school many times before in the six years since this idea was first proposed. They don't mind living next to the high school, and though they have concerns about Saturday afternoon games, they've learned to live with it. But they're drawing the line and won't sacrifice their Friday nights.
"It's as different as day and night," said neighbor Terry Lieber.
Some of the neighbors also rejected the "NIMBY" label. As the stadium lights saga has played itself out in the high school's board room, in village hall and in the local papers, both neighbors and school officials acknowledged the debate has turned political and even personal.
Jack Lanenga, OPRF's assistant superintendent for operations, during his questioning, spoke highly of the neighbors.
"Terry Lieber and the other neighbors we've come in contact with have handled themselves honorably throughout," he said.
CONTACT: tdean@wjinc.com
