Planning commission recommends moving residential outdoor-lighting cutoff from 9 p.m. to 10 p.m.

At its meeting, the Superior Planning Commission voted unanimously to recommend amending the town code to change the curfew for nonessential residential outdoor lighting from 9:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Jeffrey, a town staff member who presented the amendment, said the proposal came in response to "feedback from residents of Superior about this sort of discrepancy" between the code's 9 p.m. nighttime start and when people want to use outdoor spaces. "The amendment is to change the definition of…nighttime from 9PM to 10PM so that people can enjoy their outdoor lighting," he said.

Commissioners asked about the amendment's origins and scope. Jeffrey said the change applies only to residential, nonessential lights and does not affect athletic fields or safety-related porch and garage lighting. Commissioner Mike Barnes noted the ordinance's intent to "preserve the visual quality of the night sky, curtail light pollution, reduce sky glow," and observed an apparent tension with a later cutoff. Barnes also said he believed the approved brightness limit equates to about "1,600 lumens, which is, basically equivalent to a 100 watt light bulb."

Commissioners debated whether to allow later hours on Fridays and Saturdays or to adopt seasonal hours, but most said a single, year-round 10:00 p.m. standard would be simpler to administer. Several commissioners and public commenters said 10 p.m. aligns with existing standards for athletic-field lighting and better matches residents' evening activities.

A commissioner moved to "approve a resolution of the planning commission of the town of Superior recommending approval of amendments to section 16-20-30b of the Superior Municipal Code regarding outdoor lighting requirements." The motion was seconded; a roll-call vote recorded "yes" from Chairman Harper, Vice Chairman Mojo, Commissioner Vaughn, Commissioner Witt, Commissioner Barnes, Commissioner Gross, Commissioner Shanahan and Commissioner Welch. The commission declared the vote unanimous and the motion approved.

The staff presentation and commissioners' discussion stressed that the amendment targets nonessential residential lights; athletic-field schedules and safety lighting would remain subject to separate rules. The body noted the change grew from resident requests and staff review from the manager's office.

Staff announced that the next scheduled planning commission meeting on August 4 has been canceled. With no further business, the commission adjourned.

Next steps: the commission recommended the amendment to the town council (the motion as recorded references section 16-20-30b of the Superior Municipal Code); any final change to the municipal code will depend on subsequent council action and formal adoption.