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| Lighting and Trespassing; City Zoning | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Aug 27 2009, 06:06 PM (260 Views) | |
| :). | Aug 27 2009, 06:06 PM Post #1 |
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Advanced Member
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So I have a question. A business behind my home built on an addition several years ago, they have box lighting just shy of my backyard, which lights up nearly my entire backyard. I have spoke with the business owners as well as the city inspector. The city inspector told me that I should purchase black out shades so that my house will be dark at night. He also stated that unless they had flood lights directed into a window there was nothing he could do about it. I don't want to cause too much of a stink, has anyone else encountered this problem with any success? Any advise would be greatly appreciated. |
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| Ms. AK | Aug 27 2009, 08:08 PM Post #2 |
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Veteran
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I stumbled across this Livonia-specific light pollution article during my research for the Joe Laura profile (to appear very soon, BTW). http://www.geocities.com/eric74382000/observer.htm Outdoor lighting in city’s sights The glare of city business lights bothers a Livonia man, who studied it. He’s asking the city to look at it. BY MATT JACHMAN STAFF WRITER mjachman@oe.homecomm.net 3/1/2001 A Livonia man is campaigning against what he calls wasteful, ugly and dangerous outdoor lighting around the city. I feel it’s harmed the aesthetics of the city, said Eric Fitzpatrick of glaring, poorly shielded sources of light It’s taken on a trashy appearance at night.” Fitzpatrick, who works with computers for an automobile parts supplier, addressed the Livonia City Council during Monday’s study session. Several supporters were in the audience. Armed with a two page letter detailing his research, plus photographs of what he said were examples of both good and bad lighting, Fitzpatrick called for shielded, lower intensity outdoor lighting that’s better focused. Intense, poorly shielded or unshielded lighting can create a glare, Fitzpatrick said, that distracts drivers and police officers and decreases, rather than increases, public safety. Fixtures often send light in all directions, he said, rather than training it on the area that needs illumination. “The high glare seems to have no purpose other than attention getting, advertising,” Fitzpatrick said in explaining one of his photographs. Big offenders, he said, include gasoline stations, fast food restaurants, convenience stores and car washes. Fitzpatrick said the problem has been getting worse and contended some outdoor lighting schemes have not adhered to conditions set out by the city during site plan approval. In another photograph, the glare from the lights of a car wash on Plymouth Road out shone the gentler light from a new light pole. Fitzpatrick said the street light was actually closer to the camera than the car wash. Council members reacted positively to Fitzpatrick’s presentation. The council will likely vote next week to schedule a committee meeting on the topic, and to ask Mayor Jack Kirksey’s office for a report. “I’m very impressed that a citizen would take this much time and effort,” said Councilman Joe Laura. Councilwoman Val Vandersloot thanked Fitzpatrick for including a picture of the city hall/Civic Center Library parking lot as an example of good lighting. “I wish the whole city was like that,” he replied, “The whole country, actually.” Later, Fitzpatrick said a longtime interest in astronomy led to his research into light pollution, which obscures the night sky. A business plan he designed as part of his master’s degree work at the University of Phoenix detailed the savings that could result from changes in the business’ lighting, he said. Fitzpatrick cited New Mexico and Colorado as states that are acting on legislation to cut light pollution. He hopes Livonia follows a similar path. “If they are aggressive with this, I could see Livonia being a premier city,” he said. This article is from the Livonia Observer, Hometown Communications Network, Dated March 1, 2001. The article appeared on the front page and continued on page A5. |
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