I attended last nights meeting to review proposed changes to the San
Jose City lighting code. Bear in mind this was just a public input
meeting with some planning personnel, and no decisions were made.
There will be a committee meeting with actual Council members present
on June 5 at 1:30 pm, and the full council will discuss (and perhaps act
on) the changes June 20, also at 1:30 pm (though this item will probably
come up later in the day).
These changes apply *only* to commercial developments, and then only to
new or revised commercial developments. All commercial agreements in
existence will be "grandfathered" until there is an application for a
use change, which would trigger a new review.
Substantially, little would change. Most commercial areas and sites are
constrained to low pressure sodium outdoor lighting already, and that
would remain in effect.
There are areas of exception, primarily the Core Downtown Area, high
foot traffic night areas (such as bar/bistro districts), and other
nighttime businesses (notably car dealerships and material handling
yards, both of which have substantive arguments for being able to
accurately render color at night). Also included are sports events and
other such activities.
Those exceptions would not be automatic, but would generally be
granted. Bear in mind this is no change to existing legislation.
The only real changes that are of interest are (a) these revisions
would clarify guidelines for those usages and exceptions (there aren't
many) and (b) would require cutoff fixtures for any substantive lights
(not currently the case) and provisions to turn most -- if not all --
the lights off at or after 10pm, or whenever business is closed (but
allowing for some light level for security considerations, so (for
example) someone trying to rip off a car from a lot could still be seen
from the road). This is a general "minimal necessary" consideration.
Overall, it looks quite positive in that currently there is no
provision for turning lights off or down after certain times, and most
places just leave them on all night.
Such business interests as were represented seemed to find this
acceptable (or even interesting), and most present seemed to think the
revisions would lead to a lighting situation that is pretty much the
same as now during early evening hours, but perhaps substantially darker
after 10pm ... and even darker as the night progresses.
Also present were city officials, a few business interests, two able
and eloquent representatives from Lick Observatory, and the Sacramento
representative for IDA.
The Lick contingent was emphatically in favor of the proposed changes
as is, and I have to agree. It would be a solid step forward to have the
city encouraging (and in some cases requiring) folks to turn off their
lights when they no longer serve any useful purpose. This is just good
common sense.
There would be little if any impact on the early evening, and some hope
for darker regional skies as the night progresses. Overall, a win for
everyone.
In particular Lick and IDA are to be commended for the efforts they are
putting forth to work with the community government and business
interests to make darker skies work for everyone.
Dave North
SJAA President