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Council hears stadium arguments Opponents, Cascade supporters split 50-50; decision due in June JACKSONVILLE -- The City Council is expected to make a decision next month about Cascade Christian High School's request to add stadium lights to its football field. Jacksonville Council members Tuesday listened to about 30 speakers -- about half in support and half in opposition -- regarding the school's proposal to upgrade its field and play night football games in Jacksonville, according to Councilman Bill Leep. The City Council will accept written testimony until Wednesday, May 26. Council members are expected to make a decision during the regular meeting scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 1, in Old City Hall, says Paul Wyntergreen, city administrator. Cascade, a 255-student private high school, moved into a nearly condemned former public high school building in 1993. Parents and other volunteers have restored the old building. Last February, the school submitted a conditional use permit application to upgrade the field. The Planning Commission denied the request on March 10. Cascade appealed to the City Council for 12 of about 21 requests in the application, including a plan to build five, 60-foot stadium light poles, the most controversial item in the application. The Planning Commission denied the request, partly because Cascade Christian failed to show how they would limit the effect of the bright lights on neighbors, says Leep, who's also Planning Commission chairman. He cited a seven-point test that all conditional use applicants must meet in Jacksonville, which is a National Historic Landmark. Cascade Christian's building is zoned special protection within the landmark district, says Jason Locke, city planner. Cascade is one of about 25 conditional use permits in Jacksonville, Locke says. Conditional use applicants carry the burden of proving that their proposed project won't have a negative impact on the neighbors or the town, he says. Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA