Lighting

Lighting

ordinance

prospect

brings out

rival views

By Gerald Ochs

Rappahannock New* Writer

Last week’s Planning. Commission meeting was preceded by a meeting of a Commission committee that is drafting a County lighting ordinance. The committee met with consultant Mark Schuyler of Charlottesville, who is assisting in the ordinance development process; and who discussed “dark sky” codes and the lighting ordinances of othernearby counties.

The intent of the proposed ordi-! nance is to continue the process of ensuring that Rappahannock County remains “rural and scenic” by protecting the County from the glare that affects more populous jurisdictions, and thus furthering the objectives of the Comprehensive Plan.

The public comment portion of the Planning Commission meeting revealed some polarity on the issue of a “dark sky” ordinance. Amissville resident Robert Lindquist followed up his April 30 letter in opposition to such an ordinance with comments to the same effect.

Mr. Lindquist said that the proposed ordinance is “a tool to burden citizens and control growth” and he suggested that there were more important problems to deal with in the County. In his letter he spoke of the need for security lighting in the face of increased.rates of crime i» rural areas, and the need of the County’s ordinances to better reflect “the will of the majority of all citizens and not only the ideas of the vocal minority special interest groups.”

Amissville resident Emil Smet later voiced his agreement with Mr. Lindquist, and he presented the Commission with a petition containing the names of 96 residents who oppose a new lighting ordinance.

Bob Dennis of Flint Hill spoke in favor of a lighting ordinance and he said that he thought that “one of my property rights is to see the stars at night.” Jim Gannon expressed his surprise at the opposition by Mr. Lindquist and Mr. Smet, noting that “since there’s no proposed ordinance on the table, it’s somewhat premature to oppose it.”

Phil Irwin of Flint Hill illustrated the need for an ordinance that preserves the County’s dark sky by recalling that a recent guest, looking up at the night sky, asked “What is that bright band?” The guest was referring to the Milky Way, and said that he had never been able to see it; before visiting Rappahannock County. Mr. Irwin also referred to Mr. Lindquist’s comment on personal freedoms and property rights with his comment: “It is not a free society when one person can inconvenience many (with glaring lights).”

Planning Commissioner A1 Henry

See PLANNERS, Page AS

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