The Meadowbrook Action Committee, a land-use watchdog subcommittee of the Meadowbrook Community Council wish to inform all community councils and neighborhoods in the City of Seattle of a proposal going before the Seattle City Council in April.

The Seattle Public Schools in connection with the Parks Department are asking for a change in the height limitations of their outdoor lighting code for all of their properties. As the code stands now, the School District is limited to 35 feet high for outside lighting code upon all of their properties. They are asking for a change of the code to allow 85-foot-high lights on any property they own. This potentially allows them to place lights that will run until 10:30 p.m. at night on any elementary, middle school, high school and administrative building.

There has been a long-standing agreement with the School District and the Seattle Parks Department for joint-use of school properties of their fields for after-school hours use for adult athletic use and other uses they may choose. In addition, the Meadowbrook Community Council had a statement by Mr. Brian Benzel, chief operating officer of the Seattle School District, that they have the right and do currently rent out their facilities, whether it is a building or school playfield, to any private concern that the School District wants to.

This change in the height restriction of their lights on all properties can potentially mean use all day and up to 10:30 p.m. at night for almost any purpose. This could be a private athletic event, music concerts and public or private organizational use.

The code as it stands has a purpose. All public schools are in residential neighborhoods, surrounded by single-family homes, apartments and condos. This change in the code will affect your after-school hours quiet time in your neighborhood. This joint-venture with the parks and School District allows use seven days a week, 365 days of the year. This can only bring more cars, traffic, noise, litter and potential abuses in your neighborhood.

We are urging community councils and individuals to write to the City Council to oppose any change in the light code. Encourage them to have an open debate concerning this change and not make decisions that affect all of us behind closed doors. Please write to: Judy Nicastro, Seattle City Council, Chair of the Land Use Committee, 600 4th Ave. #1100, Seattle, WA 98104-1876.

- BETSY JENNINGS, co-chair, Meadowbrook Action Committee