Pitkin County participants weigh replacing Redstone streetlights to meet new dark‑sky code

At a Pitkin County review meeting, participants discussed replacing the existing globed streetlights along Redstone Boulevard with fixtures that direct light downward to reduce light spill into adjacent properties and the night sky.

The conversation centered on using a fixture similar to one installed near the new library in Carbondale and on whether the county could replace the lamp heads without changing the poles. Susanna (staff member) introduced the topic and said Larissa was joining “from the county” to comment on dark‑sky compliance. Larissa said the county’s new lighting code was adopted in January and went into effect in February and that the code requires dark‑sky‑friendly lighting; she said the current fixtures “are causing a lot of light pollution.”

Why it matters: Participants said switching to downward‑directing fixtures could increase usable light on sidewalks while reducing light spill onto private property and up into the sky, which would support the county’s recently adopted lighting ordinance and the local environmental group outreach that prompted the review.

Participants noted several practical issues: the existing poles are old and were obtained from another municipality long ago; a head replacement would need to match the pole finish; many modern fixtures are dimmable; and testing would be required to find an appropriate brightness and appearance. Jason James (participant) and Kathy Montgomery (participant) both voiced support for trying a single replacement and evaluating brightness and appearance before changing the whole street. As Susanna put it, the idea was to “replace one and make sure we like the brightness and the look and then come back and do the whole street.”

Larissa said the fixtures that direct light down “you'll actually probably end up with more lumens on the walking surface than you have currently, but you won't have all that light spill under the adjacent properties and up into the sky.” Several participants referenced a Carbondale example as a local model and discussed whether new heads could be painted to match the existing poles.

There was no formal vote. Participants agreed on next steps: county staff will continue to search for appropriate fixtures, order a sample and arrange an on‑site test to find an acceptable brightness and look. Susanna said she would “keep looking, and we'll find one to order and test it out.”

Next steps: staff will identify candidate fixtures, arrange a test installation on Redstone Boulevard, and report results at a future meeting.