Creve Coeur commissioners consider regulating parking-lot lights to 2,700–3,000K

Creve Coeur planning staff told the commission they are exploring a text amendment to regulate outdoor lighting color temperature for non-residential projects after debate at the City Council over a recent Lifetime Fitness parking-lot installation.

Jason Jaggi explained Kelvin values and the practical effect of lower color temperatures: lower Kelvin produces a warmer, less blue light. He said several peer cities now limit commercial lighting to 2,700 or 3,000 Kelvin and that "it's literally the color type of the bulbs that they're used," noting such a regulation would not change required photometric light levels or luminance in site plans.

Staff cited environmental and human-health considerations raised by dark-sky advocates and local council members, noting research linking bluer light to higher ecological and circadian impacts. Jaggi proposed staff contact nearby municipalities (Kirkwood, Clayton, Brentwood and others) to check for implementation issues and return with recommendations. Commissioners raised practical questions, including whether commercial fixtures permit later reprogramming and how the city's existing solar street-light program aligns with a new standard; Jaggi said many fixtures have fixed or manufacturer-specified Kelvin ratings and that some municipal solar street lights are 3,000 K.

Staff recommended more research and a text amendment if commissioners find consensus; any formal change would be incorporated into site-plan and permit review procedures rather than altering photometrics required for safety or compliance.

Next steps: staff will report back with a clearer drafting approach and examples of regulatory language; the commission indicated support for deeper research and a follow-up discussion.