At the request of a Marin high school student, the Fairfax Town Council will consider pursuing a light pollution ordinance at its Wednesday night meeting.
Drake High School junior Sophia Lahey, a Fairfax resident, has requested the council regulate outdoor light pollution in town. Lahey recently penned a .
According to Lahey, light pollution negatively impacts wildlife and human health, while increasing energy use and enhancing air pollution.
At the Feb. 6 Fairfax Council meeting, the council will discuss adopting a light pollution ordinance. If the council members decide to move forward with an ordinance, it will adopt a “resolution of intention” at the March 6 council meeting, punting the topic to the Fairfax Planning Commission before it would return to the council for final approval.
Fairfax doesn’t have an ordinance regulating outdoor lighting. At times, the planning commission has regulated outdoor lighting for residential and commercial properties via “conditions of approval.”
Lahey has encouraged the council to adopt a lighting ordinance similar to one adopted by the town of Homer Glen, Illinois. See the ordinance attached in the staff report at the right.
The council will meet on Wednesday, Feb. 6, at 7 p.m. in the Fairfax Woman’s Club. See the agenda for the entire meeting attached at the right.
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Oh, and let me tell you about my neighbor, who often leaves on all night the spotlight on his back deck, which shines into our bedroom window bright enough that we can almost read by it.
Another excellent reference is the Pattern Code written by the author of the Flagstaff Lighting Code. Here is the link for the Pattern Code: http://www.nofs.navy.mil/about_NOFS/staff/cbl/CL_POLC_standard_v2.0.pdf I commend Ms. Lahey for her courage in pursuing the Fairfax Council to adopt a lighting ordinance. If she or the Council needs further assistance I may be contacted at this email address: info@flagstaffdarkskies.org D. Luginbuhl