Grass Valley panel approves shielded, nonflashing blue security lights at Safeway shopping center

The City of Grass Valley Development Review Committee on June 24 approved a development review permit allowing six security units with shielded blue lights, cameras and two-way audio to remain at the Safeway/Gold Country Shopping Center, 867 Sutton Way.

The committee’s approval, made by motion and second and adopted by voice vote, included a modified condition specifying that the lights may not flash and must be shielded to direct light downward, in compliance with the city’s outdoor lighting standards. Staff said the units were installed several months ago, the city sent a notice in March, and the security manager turned the lights off pending review.

Committee members and staff described the devices as security-focused rather than parking-lot illumination. Amy Wilson, city planner, said Triton Global Services, the company that manages the units, immediately turned the lights off after the city’s March notice and submitted a development review application on June 5. Wilson told the committee staff added a condition requiring the lights not to flash and for shielding to be installed so light is directed downward.

Jacob Keefe of Triton Global Services, the applicant, said the units were installed in coordination with Safeway/Albertsons "in an effort to deter some of the security concerns they were having there on property." Keefe described the blue light as a deterrent and an "awareness factor": "It alerts those who are in the area that there is a security presence." He said Triton has not previously used the proposed shields at other sites but had tested them in its office.

Members asked about the requested mounting height. City staff said the units would be mounted at roughly 15 to 16 feet; the municipal code generally limits fixtures to 14 feet but grants the committee discretion to allow greater height where other lighting standards are met. Kathy Dix, city senior engineer, and other committee members noted many shopping-center pole lights are taller than 14 feet and that granting modest additional height can reduce the number of fixtures required for equivalent coverage.

Public comment focused on broader concerns about light pollution and the town’s night sky. Matthew Coulter, a caller during public comment, urged the city to require new lighting to meet dark-sky standards and criticized widespread LED “white” lighting for diminishing night-sky visibility and affecting wildlife. Coulter also raised unrelated earlier concerns about trash and site runoff during public comment.

Staff and the applicant said the lights remain turned off pending approval; shields have not yet been installed. The applicant has submitted for a building permit and indicated the shields would be installed before the units are reactivated.

The committee’s motion also included a staff recommendation that the project be found categorically exempt from further environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (Class 1, §15301), as noted in the staff report. The motion passed by voice vote.

The committee discussion included references to possible future policy changes: staff said the frequency of requests for taller fixtures in shopping centers may prompt a code update to better reflect typical commercial lighting heights.

Votes at a glance: Development review permit for six security units (Triton Global Services) at 867 Sutton Way — Approved (motion by Amy Wilson; second by Mick McDonald). Condition added: lights must be shielded, pointed downward, and may not flash. CEQA: Project found categorically exempt, CEQA Guideline §15301 (Class 1).