Planning commission recommends outdoor-lighting language to city council after public debate on sports-court and pool lights

The Fruit Heights Planning Commission voted to forward proposed outdoor-lighting ordinance language (Title 10-11-24) to the City Council after a public conversation about neighbor impacts from sports-court and pool lighting.

The proposal consolidates prior discussions into a single ordinance that, as drafted, would prohibit fixtures that "throw direct rays beyond the property line" and encourages fixtures that limit spill and point downward. Commissioners and staff said the intent is to address glare and light pollution while avoiding requiring full removal of existing lights.

Why it matters: Commissioners said the draft aims to reduce nuisance lighting and provide staff with standards to resolve complaints. Public speakers cited examples of late-night pickleball courts and pool lighting that make bedrooms unusable and asked whether the rules would apply to already-installed fixtures.

Staff said the draft uses a "reasonable person" standard to judge complaints, emphasizing changes to fixture aim and shielding rather than mandatory removal. "It's not like take your light down — it's like angle your light a different direction," a staff member said during the discussion. Commissioners and the public also debated whether to add specific hours (for example, 10 or 11 p.m.) that outdoor-recreation lighting must be turned off; several commissioners said they preferred a lighter-touch approach that could be revisited if complaints increase.

Public comment: Residents Kelly and Ashley Larson of Howard's Bay described late-night play as a neighborhood disruption and asked whether weekend/weekday differences should apply; commissioners said the ordinance could be amended later if patterns of complaints emerge.

Outcome and next steps: A commissioner moved to forward the proposed language as written to City Council; a second was recorded and the motion carried ("Aye"). The commission recorded the recommendation, noting the council may choose to modify hours or other provisions before adoption. The commission directed staff to remain open to future amendments if the community registers more complaints.

Provisions and limitations: The draft prioritizes limiting direct rays beyond property lines and shielding fixtures. It does not, in its current draft forwarded to the council, set a uniform curfew for all outdoor-recreation lighting. The commission discussed but did not mandate retroactive removal of existing fixtures; staff said enforcement would generally focus on complaint-driven adjustments such as re-angling or shielding lights.

The proposal now goes to the City Council for consideration; the Planning Commission will revisit the ordinance if ongoing complaints suggest a need for specific hours or additional technical standards.