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Midcoast Community Council approves letter urging stricter coastal lighting standards and a multi‑year phase‑in
Summary
The council voted 6–0 to send a draft letter to the county board and planning commissioners urging lower nighttime lighting color temperatures (preferring ~2200K over 3000K), a multiyear compliance window (3–5 years) for existing fixtures, and clearer complaint procedures. The letter will be sent to the board of supervisors and relevant planning staff. (Authored with community input.)
Council member Kimberly Williams presented a draft comment letter on proposed changes to the county design review and lighting standards and the council discussed the language and implementation timeline before voting to approve the letter 6–0. The draft asks the Board of Supervisors and planning staff to adopt lower correlated color temperature limits for coastal areas (the council prefers a maximum of about 2,200K where appropriate), to include a reasonable phase‑in window for compliance (the letter requests 3–5 years rather than immediate retroactivity), and to adopt clearer complaint and enforcement language so neighbors have an administrative tool if lighting creates an environmental or nuisance issue.
Supporters at the meeting emphasized that lower‑temperature, well‑shielded fixtures already used in some local projects (for example, at a local elementary school) provide good nighttime visibility without excessive glare; Steve Terry and Dan Haggerty urged the council to press for a phase‑in and for objective, enforceable language. The letter will be distributed to the Board of Supervisors, the Planning Commission, the county planning staff and the supervisor's office, and the council said it would transmit the letter tomorrow.
Vote and next step: the motion to approve the comment letter carried 6–0. The council also agreed to ask for community input on the posted draft prior to submittal and to follow up with planning staff if they request clarifications or redlines.
