City Aims to Combat Light Pollution with New 'Dark Sky' Legislation

Palo Alto is moving towards adopting a “dark sky” ordinance aimed at reducing light pollution to protect both wildlife and residents’ quality of life. However, local officials and stakeholders are divided over how comprehensively the regulations should apply. The proposed ordinance includes measures such as limiting exterior light color temperature to a maximum of 2,700 Kelvin, extinguishing lights by 10 p.m. when not in use, and utilizing motion sensors to turn off lights after a brief period. While environmental advocates argue for broader applications, including existing buildings, city staff contend that such measures would be too complex and difficult to enforce. As part of the discussion, the ordinance also sets standards for light trespass across property lines, with some advocating for stricter limits than what the city staff has proposed. The City Council is set to review the ordinance on April 7, as the debate continues regarding balancing environmental goals with practical enforcement concerns.

City Aims to Combat Light Pollution with New ‘Dark Sky’ Legislation

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