[Vision2020] light pollution

Sat Jan 21 23:46:02 PST 2006

Mr. Evans,

Please do your homework about the physics of light before you post.

For the rest of you interested in this topic, 
consider that with a bit over 1000 square miles 
of land in Latah County, there are 500 rural farm 
lights (yard lights).  That is 1 light per 2 
square miles.  Since many of the lights are 
clustered in areas around the urban centers, the 
average number of light units per square mile 
drops considerably.  It is dark in the rural parts of this county.

As a rural property owner, let me assure you that 
I do respect the concept of light pollution and 
manage my light use to be as unobtrusive as 
possible.  All of us in our "neighborhood" work 
together to not impose on each other on most 
issues, including lighting.  If there was a 
problem, we would find a way to work it out.  I 
don't recognize your name and I am rather 
confident that you don't live near me.  So why, 
exactly, are you attempting to dictate lighting 
issues to me and my neighbors.

If you, Mr. Evans, would be willing to demand 
that the County accept all liability for damage 
and injury to property and persons that result 
from reduced lighting on rural property, would 
support a fair compensation to me (or my 
neighbors) for damages to animals and crops 
harmed by predators and foragers, would support 
public funds be raised to reimburse me (or rural 
residents) for damages resulting from burglary, 
trespass and general mischief, we can pursue a 
dialogue.  Frankly, I would rather invest such 
scarce public dollars in county infrastructure and schools ....

Until then, I will not compromise my 
responsibility for the health and safety of my 
family, my neighbors or my friends for your dark sky agenda.

Until you support full financial responsibility 
by Latah County for the consequences for what you 
are asking me and my neighbors to do in our 
neighborhood, why don't you work with your 
neighbors to deal with the light pollution in 
your neighborhood?  I assume that you live in Moscow.

At 01:58 PM 1/21/2006, you wrote:

>Below is a message from Patrick Evans about Yard 
>Lights and Light Pollution on the Palouse....BL
>
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><?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />
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>Mercury vapor yard lights are good business for 
>the power companies that promote them.  To the 
>power companies it means money but to many of us 
>it means a despoiling of our night sky and light 
>trespass onto our properties and into homes by 
>unwitting neighbors.  In Latah County today, 
>Clearwater Power has some 500 mercury vapor yard 
>lights installed on rural properties.  The 
>numbers are increasing and our night sky is 
>fading.  Placing shields on these lights to 
>avoid light going up or laterally is not an 
>option according to Clearwater Power as these 
>lights are an older model and cannot be shielded.
>
>
>
>The basic fact with these bright mercury vapor 
>yard lights is that the glare reduces the owners 
>ability to see properly and in effect reduces 
>the owners safety and security.  Shielding these 
>lights not only makes them more effective for 
>the owners but reduces light trespass and hence conflicts between neighbors.
>
>
>
>The Planning and Building Commission of Latah 
>County has drafted a good outdoor lighting 
>ordinance which will require all yard lights to 
>be shielded.  Clearwater Power is opposed as 
>they will have to change out all of their older 
>model mercury vapor lights for something more 
>modern with shields.  To them it’s all about 
>money but this is our county and our quality of 
>life that we must work to maintain.  There is 
>also a vociferous group of rural land owners who 
>have no respect for their neighbors and believe 
>that they should have the right to put up as 
>many mercury vapor yard lights as they 
>desire.  Surely this group of people who would 
>not know the difference between a planet and a 
>star are in the minority – count the lights – 
>500 to date.  The majority of rural land owners 
>as well as all concerned residents of Latah 
>County now have an opportunity to demand that 
>all these bright obnoxious lights are fitted 
>with shields.  The Planning Commission has done 
>the work and they now need to hear from all of 
>us.  They need our support to pass this ordinance.
>
>
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>The draft ordinance is as follows:
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>SECTION  9.03 DESIGN STANDARDS FOR ALL OUTDOOR LIGHTING
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>9.03.01 APPLICABILITY
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>In order to conserve energy and reduce light 
>pollution, all outdoor lights, including lights 
>attached to any type of building or structure shall be:
>
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>1. Equipped with a photo-sensor so they are 
>automatically turned off during daylight hours; and
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>2. Of a design that does not allow light to travel up or horizontally; and
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>3. Lamped with high pressure sodium, metal 
>halide, or compact fluorescent lamps, or 
>incandescent bulbs of 60 watts or less.
>
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>9.03.02  CHANGE IN USE
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>When application for a change of use or for a 
>conditional use permit is made, all existing 
>lighting must be brought into compliance with 
>Section 9.03.01 of this ordinance.
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>9.03.03  QUASI-JUDICIAL DECISIONS
>
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>The Zoning Commission or the Board of Latah 
>County Commissioners may set stricter conditions 
>than are set in Section 9.03.01 of this 
>ordinance for any type of permit that comes before them.
>
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>It’s time to stop the spread of unshielded 
>mercury vapor yard lights in Latah County.  The 
>power companies should be held accountable and 
>be required to place shield on all of their yard 
>lights.  For homeowners, it is only common decency to shield your yard lights.
>
>
>
>The next public meeting to discuss this 
>ordinance will be on 7 February at 5.30pm in the 
>county court house – room 2B.  Please join to 
>stand up for saving our night sky and the 
>peacefulness of the Palouse.  In the meantime, 
>you can write to the Planning Commission at 
><mailto:pb at latah.id.us>pb at latah.id.us and tell 
>them you support the ordinance and copy to the 
>county commissioners to keep them informed.
>
>
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>Key contacts:
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>Planning and Building Commission:  <mailto:pb at latah.id.us>pb at latah.id.us
>
>Janet Hohle 
>(Commissioner):   <mailto:jhohle at offsiteidahoag.us>jhohle at offsiteidahoag.us
>
>Michelle Fuson  (PB 
>Coordinator):  <mailto:mfuson at latah.id.us>mfuson at latah.id.us
>
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>County Commissioners:
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>Jack Nelson: <mailto:jnelson at latah.id.us>jnelson at latah.id.us
>
>Paul Kimmmel:  <mailto:pkimmell at latah.id.us>pkimmell at latah.id.us
>
>Tom Stroschein: <mailto:toms at moscow.com>tstroschein at latah.id.us
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>Patrick T. Evans
>
>882-6241
>_____________________________________________________
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