Skykeepers of Sacramento
County
Skykeepers
skykeepers.org
founded September
1, 1999
Activities
in Sacramento County
The
Sacramento County General Plan is being updated.
Support
Dark Skies with your comments.
Light Pollution and Outdoor Lighting HAS been included in the
Draft General Plan dated May 30, 2007 See - Page #54
LIGHT POLLUTION Objective: Reduced
levels of light pollution in both new and existing communities. Intent: Nighttime
lighting provides safety and comfort to communities and their
residents, but excess and misdirected light creates the phenomenon
known as light pollution. An increasing problem for metropolitan areas,
light pollution is light not targeted for a specific task, creating an
unhealthy and unsightly environment. This light originates from a
number of sources including interior and exterior lighting on
buildings, lights associated with advertising, streetlights, sporting
venues and shopping centers. There are number of environmental,
ecological, quality of life, and human health implications associated
with light pollution. Excess nighttime light wastes energy and harms
the integrity of ecosystems. Artificial light interrupts the biological
clock of organisms that depend on light (or lack thereof) to trigger
behavioral activities. Upward-directed light creates skyglow above
cities, impairing the view of the night sky, stars and planets. As
Sacramento County continues to grow, efforts can be taken to reduce
excess and inappropriate light on the surrounding social and biological
environment by ensuring lighting structures are designed to limit the
distribution of forward light, backlight and uplight. Policy: LU-33. Strive to
achieve a natural nighttime environment and an uncompromised public
view of the night sky by reducing light pollution. Implementation Measure:
A. Address and incorporate outdoor lighting measures in any Zoning Code
update, community and specific plans, corridor plans, district plans,
transit station plans or any other planning programs.
A number of
signatures have been turned in requesting Light Pollution and Outdoor
Lighting be addressed in the Sacramento County General Plan
update. Staff has add some good language.
More is needed and more cards and letters are needed.