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Argyle staff outlines steps to pursue International Dark Sky Community designation
Summary
Town staff presented the Dark Sky Places program and what Argyle would need to do — lighting ordinance, public outreach, retrofits and monitoring — and council asked staff to continue engaging Dark Sky Texas representatives and gather baseline meter readings.
Town staff and representatives from Dark Sky Texas briefed Argyle Town Council on Jan. 13 about what it would take for the town to seek designation as an International Dark Sky Community.
Harrison, a town staff member leading the briefing, told council the designation program evaluates jurisdictions on four primary actions: adopt a lighting ordinance or policy, complete dark-sky–friendly retrofits on public facilities, provide outreach and education to residents and businesses, and monitor night-sky quality with sky-quality meters. He said the process typically involves a pre-application inquiry (about 45 days), an eligibility assessment, a formal application and a Dark Sky Places Committee review; the review and final certification typically take another 90 to 150 days once an application package is complete. The town would also be required to file annual reports documenting ongoing outreach and sky monitoring to retain the designation.
Dr. Karen McGraw, identified as an outreach coordinator with Dark Sky Texas, and Gordon Meredith, a North Texas regional manager and volunteer, spoke to council and offered to help with outreach and measurement. Meredith brought demonstration sky-quality meters that he said the town could use to start baseline readings immediately.
Council members asked about likely obstacles. Staff said Argyle’s current ordinances lack specific color-temperature limits and that nearby light domes (Denton, Flower Mound) and commercial lighting (noted examples: a car wash near 377) would not automatically disqualify Argyle: the program evaluates the jurisdiction’s policies and education efforts, not a preset minimum sky darkness. Councilmembers suggested the town lead by example by retrofitting public lighting and requested that staff continue to work with the Dark Sky representatives on a plan for public outreach, meter deployment and a draft lighting ordinance.
No formal action was taken; staff was directed to continue outreach and to bring back materials and implementation steps to a future council meeting.
