In sharp contrast to its approach on wind power, the Planning Commission completed years of work on a lighting ordinance that will go to the Town Council, probably at its September meeting.
This ordinance is pretty strict – libertarians are going to hate it – but I like it. I think it actually does what it sets out to do – protect Charlestown
This ordinance has been in the making for years. It was long championed by Dr. Lew Johnson – I remember reading an article in the Providence Journal in 2007 where Dr. Johnson talked about the need to fight to protect our dark skies. Now, after all these years, it looks like the town might have the right approach.
As most Progressive Charlestown readers know, it pains me to praise the Planning Commission. In my opinion, they frequently take way too long and then get it way too wrong, their most recent wind power ban being a case in point.
But the new ordinance uses only six pages to detail the best way for property owners in Charlestown
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| Zodiacal light |
In addition to some minor changes to the text of their previous draft, the Commission put some finishing touches on the ordinance before pronouncing it ready for prime time.
They added a definition of Dark Skies with language provided to them by professional astronomers. Put in layperson’s terms, we have achieved a Dark Sky if we can see, on a clear night without the aid of instruments, the Milky Way, bright star clusters (e.g. the Pleiades) and zodiacal light.
They also added a requirement that commercial exterior lighting be turned off within one hour of closing and one hour of opening unless they are on motion detectors. Town facilities will have to conform and they are hopeful the state DOT (i.e. the salt barn) will also conform. The Commission also hopes everyone will conform to flag etiquette and take down the flag at sunset, rather than fly it 24 hours a day with floodlights.
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| The Pleiades |
The final ordinance has a seven year grandfather clause. By December 31, 2018, all outdoor lighting in Charlestown should conform to the standards in the ordinance, though some of the more radical Planning Commissioners wanted to cut the time to as little as one year.
Though there will not be light inspections (nor is our Building inspector going to go around shooting out offending lights), any time someone wants a new electrical permit or does new construction, the lighting will have to conform.
The Commission also plans to do a lot of outreach and public education on practical ways to use lighting to meet your needs while also protecting our dark sky, recognizing that voluntary participation will get more done that hiring some lighting police.
The lighting ordinance, in a nutshell, tells all property owners to use only the type and amount of lighting that is needed. And when it’s needed, to keep the light focused on where it needs to be. They will provide materials showing residents what types of lighting work well for typical uses while not taking away a resource most of us value.
Some will see this ordinance as pretty hardcore – and it is – but I think it’s also practical. As many of us make the transition to high-efficiency lighting, we can also factor in lighting discipline as of a piece with energy conservation.
As a kid growing up in Pawtucket, I wanted to be an astromer when I grew up, even though you couldn't see much in the sky over Pawtucket and Central Falls. I lacked the math skills, but never lost interest. Coming to Charlestown, I see our dark sky as truly a gift.
I am so glad the Planning Commission took this approach, rather than apply the kind of overkill they are using to kill wind power. Imagine a lighting ordinance that read: “"No Outdoor Lighting Device Wind Energy Facility or Wind Turbine of any sort or nature is permitted in any zoning district located in the Town. Such uses are prohibited uses in all zoning areas."
Author: Will Collette
