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Resident urges Northampton to adopt light-pollution ordinance to protect night skies and wildlife
Summary
A Ward 4 resident asked the Ordinance Review Committee to consider a light-pollution ordinance, citing loss of night sky visibility, effects on wildlife, potential health links and low burden on daily life if addressed through modest lighting changes.
Ryan Griffiths, a Ward 4 resident, asked the city to consider a light-pollution ordinance to preserve night skies, reduce impacts on local wildlife and potentially improve public health.
Griffiths said Northampton is one of the largest light polluters in Hampshire County and that measures to reduce unnecessary outdoor lighting would have minimal effect on daily life while returning benefits to residents and the environment. "You can't see the stars at night. It impacts the local wildlife and fauna," Griffiths said, and he added that research shows an association between light pollution and certain health risks.
Committee members noted previous council work on light pollution and said the committee has already reviewed the topic; they encouraged the public to send additional suggestions to staff for committee consideration.
No city ordinance was proposed or voted on at the forum; the committee will gather public suggestions for its review.
