Algonquin man wants to dim neighbor's lights

Quite unlike a moth to a flame, Brian Schooley recoils from the lights coming from his new neighbor and beaming into his home. And he's calling on the village of Algonquin to help dim the glare.

For the three years he's lived in the Willoughby Farms subdivision near Randall and County Farm roads, Schooley said he's enjoyed uninterrupted darkness.

But now that the Brunswick Zone XL entertainment complex has opened just behind his home, he's complaining about white light streaming into his home from a series of lights outside the business.

"It reminds me more of a halogen headlight, it's fairly bright," said Schooley, who lives alone. "I know this sounds picky and silly."

The light originates from six decorative lamps in front of Brunswick Zone and it penetrates a pair of skylights in Schooley's living room.

From there, the light bounces into his bedroom and living room. Still, it's not enough to disturb his sleep.

While he was aware that the farm field that separates his neighborhood from retail-rich Randall Road would be built on, he still feels the lights have compromised his quality of life.

Blinds already cover the windows and patio door to block the light coming from the business. But putting blinds on the skylights is not an option, he said.

Company officials weren't aware there was an issue with the lights that are used for security purposes, said Matthew Fletcher, manager at the facility.

Yet Brunswick Zone is striving to be a good community partner and wants to be sure the solution doesn't compromise anyone's safety, Fletcher said.

In the future, he added, residents should bring their complaints directly to him.

"We want to take the type of action that is going to redeem ourselves to them," he said.

While Schooley is the only person to bring the issue to the attention of village officials, the village will inspect Brunswick Zone's light levels within the next two weeks to see if they're intrusive, Assistant Village Manager Jeff Mihelich said.

"And if it looks like they are in violation of the village code, we will institute some corrective action," he said.

Schooley invited inspectors to come inside his house at night to get a better perspective.