SEQUIM — When new houses started going up on East Silberhorn several months ago, people living in the area weren’t thrilled about the additional traffic and noise that more residents inevitably bring.
But what got the neighbors talking, said Pat Clark, was installation of four streetlights and the possibility of many more.
The lights illuminate streets and sidewalks, but they also spread glare into homes and backyards and dim the view of the night sky.
Clark took the issue to the Sequim City Council last week along with photographs and thick packets of information.
Council responds to issue
The council responded by placing “city lighting issues” on the agenda for today’s 9 a.m. work session at the Sequim Transit Center, 190 W. Cedar St.
The work session is the first step toward potentially changing city lighting rules.
“It really is time to take a hard look at this, and a quick look at this,” said Clark, who lives on Falcon Road near the new construction.
“They’re days away from illuminating an area [on Silberhorn Road] that has been completely black — and it will illuminate people’s bedroom windows.”
The city of Sequim’s point man for lighting requirements is Public Works Director Jim Bay, who was out of town Tuesday and could not be reached for comment.
Councilman Paul McHugh, however, said city leaders will listen to new ideas.
“I think that if there’s ways that we can do it better, we should consider those options,” McHugh said.
“Those night vistas are important. People don’t want the night turned into day just because there’s development.
“I like to see people bring forth some positive suggestions.”
Light concerns growing
Concerns with “light trespass” or “light pollution” have emerged in many communities, from small but fast-growing rural areas to sprawling metropolitan behemoths like Los Angeles.
The main points of argument are that overlighting wastes energy; glare from unshielded lights actually reduces visibility for drivers and pedestrians; and poorly arranged street lighting shines into people’s houses and diminishes the view of the night sky, degrading quality of life.
A leader in this area is the International Dark Sky Association (www.darksky.org), which disseminates information around the world about how to prevent light trespass.
Dave Crawford, Dark Sky Association’s executive director, said many communities don’t plan for lighting even as they meticulously research other planning details.
“They plan for 12 hours a day instead of 24,” he said.
“They forget that if you look up ‘glare’ in the dictionary, it says, ‘Blinding light.’ “
