Lake Bluff sustainability committee forwards outdoor-lighting draft to village board for comment

The Village of Lake Bluff Sustainability & Community Enhancement Ad Hoc Committee voted on Aug. 19 to forward a draft outdoor-lighting ordinance and staff report to the village board for initial comment. Committee members said they wanted the board’s input before finalizing several remaining items, including grandfathering time frames and enforcement approaches.

"Can I get a motion to forward this draft to the village board for comment?" Chair Runer asked. Member Twitchell moved the motion "with enthusiasm," a second followed, and the committee approved the motion in a roll call vote with all members present voting "aye."

Committee discussion identified several items the board may question: grandfathering time frames for existing nonresidential and residential fixtures, enforcement options and whether to notify local lighting and landscaping companies about compliance requirements. A staff member summarized the draft’s current approach: nonresidential properties that retrofit fixtures before the effective period would receive building-permit discounts if work occurred within a four-year window; residential grandfathering would apply only when a project met a defined threshold for replacement or expense.

Members suggested distributing the draft to local outdoor-lighting companies and landscapers once village board comments are incorporated, so contractors understand Dark-Sky…