As discussions about adopting a lighting code begin, the community’s policymakers (e.g. Council) should be developing policies that define the community values and purpose that support adoption of the lighting code. These policies are commonly expressed in a Comprehensive or Regional Plan.

 

As these plans are developed every effort should be made to build consensus that dark sky protection is not just for the dark sky NGO or stargazers, but beneficial for all members of the community. This consensus is built through education and relationships with governing bodies, community advocacy groups and NGOs, as well as through all activities that foster a dark Sky Ethos.

 

Finally, it is important to avoid the confusion that arises when dark sky protection goals are conflated with on-site details of lighting design. Though in some aspects dark sky impacts broadly or reduced through practices recognized by many in the lighting industries as “good” or “quality” lighting design, many aspects of lighting design are irrelevant to, and sometimes contrary to the protection of restoration of dark skies (as examples consider the uniformity of illumination in a parking lot, or the illumination of architectural or landscape features with upward-directed floodlighting). Avoiding as much as possible lighting design specification keeps the lighting code focused on communitywide impacts – the natural provenance of zoning codes – and avoids complicating implementation and enforcement of extraneous often technical standards.

Flagstaff Regional Plan FRP2030.IV.pg13

Other Policies

In many communities some areas or applications are covered by authorities other than the community. Examples include state-owned property (e.g. a state university, sometimes even the local school district; any federal property; sometimes adjacent or included County properties). Each of these should be included in the discussion concerning community dark sky values and encouraged to adopt policies and standards (see TFS Lighting Code) where appropriate.

Examples in the Flagstaff area include:

• Flagstaff Unified School District (state jurisdiction)
• Northern Arizona University (state jurisdiction)
  • NAU Design Guidelines and Technical Standards
• Coconino County land adjacent to and within the city limits (County jurisdiction)
  • Coconino County Comprehensive Plan 2017 Update_201707061327191341-113-114
• US National Park Service (federal jurisdiction)