Lights will be brighter in downtown Carrboro
by Kennedy Carruthers
Carrboro Commons Writer
At Tuesday’s business meeting, the Board of Aldermen adopted a resolution submitted by the Planning Committee to modify maximum light levels in two downtown zoning districts.
Photo by Jenny Tenney
The modification will mean foot candles in the residential properties in the B-1(c) and B-1(g) zoning districts will increase in light intensity from the current 0.2 foot cap to 2.0 feet.
The zones include Carrboro locales such as Carr Mill Mall and Carrboro Town Hall.
Lauren Van Sant of Main Street Properties originally requested the modification to the light ordinance. According to Alderman Lydia Lavelle, Van Sant is part of the team heading the 300 E. Main St. project, a mixed use building that will sit within the zones affected by the resolution (where the ArtsCenter is currently located).
But despite the approval for the resolution, board members expressed concern about the future impact of the increased light intensity.
“I can think of all sorts of concerns,” Alderman Jacquelyn Gist said. Gist predicted residents of mixed use buildings to be concerned with the foot candle’s increased light level.
Aldermen Dan Coleman and Randee Haven-O’Donnell also expressed concern with future repercussions. Coleman suggested that the higher light levels could reach residents’ windows and therefore be seen as intrusive.
“I think Jacquie is right,” Haven-O’Donnell said of Gist’s concerns, “that, sooner or later, this may come around again.”
Ellen Perry, a Carrboro resident and frequent voice at Board of Aldermen meetings, according to Lavelle, said she was in support of more lighting on Carrboro streets.
“Main Street is the only street I feel safe on…Please think about people with disabilities when you think about lighting. People that can’t walk, have canes, have crutches can’t get out at night, so please think of us.”
Lavelle said that the adopted resolution is “like a balance,” meeting the needs of residents inside mixed use buildings and residents surrounding larger buildings.
According to Lavelle, the resolution could be modified again to meet the recommendations of the
International Dark-Sky Association (IDA).
IDA is a non-profit organization whose main objective is to “preserve and protect the nighttime environment and our heritage of dark skies through quality outdoor lighting,” according to IDA’s Web site.
By adhering to the IDA’s recommendations, “People will be able to see the stars again, which would be nice,” said Gist.
