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Royal Oak agrees to replace 520 city‑owned fixtures with LED lights; dark‑sky questions raised
Summary
The commission moved forward with a DTE program that would replace 520 city‑owned non‑LED fixtures with LED cobra and decorative fixtures; DTE said cobra heads will be ~4,000 K and decorative acorn fixtures ~2,700 K with shields to reduce glare, though some uplight remains.
Royal Oak commissioners discussed and approved consent-agenda authorization for a DTE program to replace 520 city-owned non‑LED streetlight fixtures with LED alternatives on Sept. 22.
A city staff member explained the agreement covers 520 fixtures that the city owns (most other streetlights in Royal Oak are owned and maintained by DTE). A DTE representative described two proposed fixture families: roadway cobra-head fixtures that will use an LED array at about 4,000 Kelvin and decorative "acorn" fixtures that will be LED at about 2,700 Kelvin. The DTE speaker said, "We are proposing a very similar fixture style... with a 4,000 k color temperature" for cobra heads and that the decorative fixtures would be "2,700 Kelvin color temperature," and that shields will be installed to reduce spill and glare.
Residents and commissioners raised dark‑sky concerns. Monica Sipe asked whether the DTE lights would follow dark‑sky recommendations and whether the city would accept DTE’s IES standards. The DTE representative acknowledged that decorative globe fixtures mounted with a prismatic refractor will result in some upward projection but said shields and specified fixture components can reduce upward light.
Commissioners framed the project as improving energy efficiency while seeking to minimize light pollution: replacing older, higher‑consumption bulbs with LEDs reduces electricity use, and the city will require shielding where feasible. The consent agenda passed, which included the DTE lighting authorization; staff said further program details will be provided to the commission.
Next steps: staff will provide detailed specifications and program materials to commissioners and begin coordination for installation of the city‑owned fixtures.
