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Residents ask Ventnor to address bright LED lights and unsafe traffic at shopping plaza
Summary
Several Ventnor residents told commissioners the renovated shopping‑center parking lot’s new LED fixtures are shining into nearby homes and delivery drivers are ignoring 'Do Not Enter' signage, creating potential safety risks for children; city staff said they will contact the property owner and check enforcement authority for signs on private property.
Several Ventnor residents used the public‑comment period on March 27 to press the city for action after a recent renovation of a local shopping center.
“Those LED lights shine right in my house,” said Bre Mellow, who identified her address near North Victoria Avenue and asked that the city contact the property owner to alter fixture aiming or add shielding. She said the lights “are not even facing my house…they are angled up and shine right in my bedroom.”
Adam Altino and Enrique Vargas, nearby homeowners, echoed the lighting complaint and described traffic problems tied to the plaza’s circulation. Residents said drivers routinely ignore 'Do Not Enter' signs, speed through an exit and make unsafe maneuvers that endanger children playing in nearby yards.
Mayor Creel and staff said the city will contact the plaza owner, Mark Greco, to request adjustments and check enforcement authority for signage on private property. Staff noted the municipal light‑trespass ordinance could apply if fixtures send light off‑property; police jurisdiction to issue citations depends on whether the signs are on private property and on legal authority under Title 39 and related provisions.
“Usually they take care of it within a day or a few days,” a staff member said while committing to follow up with the owner and police. Residents were told they would receive follow‑up via email or through the clerk’s office.
The Commission did not take formal action during the public‑comment period. Staff identified next steps — contacting the property owner about fixture shields/aiming and coordinating with police to confirm enforcement options — and said they would notify residents of outcomes.
