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 Li...
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