Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Lighting Policy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council declares intent to pursue dark-sky certification and extends lighting nuisance into ETJ
Summary
The council approved a resolution stating the town's intent to seek dark-sky certification to enable enforceable outdoor-lighting rules and adopted an ordinance extending lighting nuisance limits 5,000 feet into the ETJ with numeric foot-candle thresholds for residential (0.25) and nonresidential (2.25) property lines.
On June 12 the Northlake Town Council approved a resolution expressing intent to pursue International Dark-Sky certification and adopted a companion ordinance extending outdoor-lighting nuisance regulations 5,000 feet into the extraterritorial jurisdiction.
Staff said the resolution is a required step under recent state law to allow municipalities to adopt and enforce outdoor-lighting standards designed to reduce light pollution; the resolution itself does not require property owners to retrofit existing fixtures, and any new or updated lighting requirements would apply to new development or when property use changes. Staff presented numeric thresholds for nuisance lighting (0.25 foot-candles at residential property lines and 2.25 foot-candles at nonresidential lines) and said measurements would be taken at the adjacent property line with a handheld photometer.
Council discussed residential impacts and enforcement practicality. Several councilmembers said the town's current approach to street-light design and prior replacements has already reduced glare and that the resolution signals a long-term goal rather than an immediate retrofit mandate. The resolution passed 5-2; the companion ordinance extending lighting nuisance regulations into the ETJ passed 5-2 as well.
Staff said any future regulations would be written to be no more restrictive than required to achieve certification and that enforcement would apply to new lighting or when development occurs; staff will provide implementation guidance and cost estimates if council wishes to pursue certification further.
