Title
Dark Sky Policy C-AD19
Proposed Motion
That Council approve the Dark Sky Policy C-AD19.
Body
Administration Recommendation
Administration recommends that Parkland County's Dark Sky Policy be approved.
Purpose
The purpose of the Dark Sky Policy is to reduce light pollution in Parkland County brought about by artificial night time lighting, while still maintaining public safety. The Policy provides a distinction between residential and industrial night time street lighting requirements, and provides options for both Light Emitting Diode (LED) and High Pressure Sodium (HPS) lighting technologies. With regards to private residential lighting, the policy would require that all new lighting installations and replacements that require an electrical permit be dark sky compatible. Regarding private industrial lighting, the policy does allow for exceptions based on safety and security, but otherwise requires that all new private industrial lighting and lighting replacements requiring an electrical permit are dark sky compatible. This policy also grandfathers all outdoor residential street, residential private, industrial street, and industrial private lighting that was lawfully installed prior to the coming in force of this policy.
Summary
The in early 2013 Environmental Advisory Committee recommended that Parkland County adopt a Dark Sky Policy to reduce light pollution created as a result of artificial night time lighting, while still maintaining public safety. A dark sky policy reduces light pollution by specifying two main requirements: i) that the lighting fixture be designed so that it limits/eliminates the amount of light that ends up in the sky usually through the use of baffles, and ii) that the lighting fixture be installed so that the light is directed downward. Administration has researched dark sky compliant street lighting fixtures and found that more dark sky compatible options currently exist for high pressure sodium (HPS) lighting than for Light Emitting Diode (LED) lighting, and as a result this Policy embraces both technologies. It is expected though, that more Dark Sky compliant LED fixtures will be made available in the future. Regarding costs, dark sky compliant HPS street lighting fixtures are comparable to conventional HPS street lighting fixtures, and dark sky compliant LED fixtures are only marginally more expensive to purchase than their HPS counterparts. However, with a longer bulb life (requiring less frequent servicing) and lower electricity consumption LEDs could likely become less expensive than HPS over time. It is anticipated that existing non-dark sky compliant street lighting will be replaced with dark sky compliant upon end of life. With regards to residential lighting, Administration researcedh the cost differential between non-dark sky compliant and dark sky compliant outdoor residential lighting options, and found that dark sky compatible lighting technologies very similarly priced to their conventional counterparts. The same holds true for private outdoor industrial lighting. The impact on County infrastructure assets will be minimal in terms of cost, and the impact on residences and businesses will be felt mainly in terms of having to do things differently as cost the differential between dark-sky and non-dark sky lighting is marginal. In order to minimize any adverse effect on our residents and businesses, a communications program targeting businesses and residents will be launched prior to the coming into force of this policy.
Strategic Plan/Policy/Legal/Staff Implications (As Required)
Strategic Plan - Economic Development: Goal 2 Strategy 3: Parkland County will take steps to further promote and foster sustainable development
Strategic Plan - Environment: Goal 1 Strategy 2: Parkland County will introduce practices to make operations more environmentally friendly
Strategic Plan - Environment: Goal 1 Strategy 4: Parkland County will encourage green development
Strategic Plan - Infrastructure: Goal 1 Strategy 1: Parkland County will adopt best practices in the management of infrastructure
Strategic Plan - Infrastructure: Goal 1 Strategy 3: Parkland County will increase the importance of environmental protection
Financial Impact:
Cost:
Source of Funding:
Other (As Required)