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Council moves to draft 'light shield' ordinance after residents complain about intrusive lighting
Summary
Councilor Cohen brought forward a proposal for a light-shielding ordinance to address exterior lighting that intrudes on neighboring properties; the matter was referred to the Ordinances, Licenses & Legal Affairs committee for drafting and review.
The Salem City Council on July 17 agreed to move a draft ‘‘light shield’’ ordinance to the Committee on Ordinances, Licenses and Legal Affairs after Councilor Cohen described recurring community complaints about outdoor lighting shining into homes.
Cohen said the city receives numerous calls about lighting that affects neighbors and that ‘‘64 communities’’ have adopted similar ordinances. He described a small working group with building department staff and local electricians and said the draft ordinance would give the building commissioner authority to resolve shielding disputes.
‘‘We're almost actually done with the ordinance, it's fairly simple,’’ Cohen told the council, describing past cases where the city paid for light shields or recommended new fixtures but encountered resistance from some property owners. Councilor Varela said the measure would ‘‘go a long way’’ toward improving neighbors’ quality of life, and several councilors urged the working group to finalize language for committee review.
The council approved referring the matter to the committee; the committee is expected to meet before the council’s September session to consider language and enforcement mechanisms. The action does not establish new rules yet; it initiates the drafting and committee-review process.
