Fairfax tackles light pollution to let people enjoy the stars
Fairfax officials, following in the footsteps of activists in western Marin, are developing a “dark sky” ordinance to curtail light emissions.
“I think people move to a place like Fairfax, which is a gateway to West Marin, for the love of nature and to see the stars, and with as little light pollution as possible,” said Councilmember Chance Cutrano. “The general public probably wouldn't notice too many big changes, but they would when they look up at the sky.”
The ordinance would conform with a series of requirements, educational programs and lighting fixture upgrades in accordance with Dark Sky International, a nonprofit that provides certifications for compliant municipalities, parks and regions.
More than 200 places in the world have attained the designation since Flagstaff, Arizona, was named the first International Dark Sky City in 2001. Advocates have been seeking to gain designations in Marin.
At a Fairfax Town Council retreat March 29, members agreed to look at whether streetlights could be improved to be “dark sky” compliant.
The council directed staff to develop an ordinance for review. It will first be heard by the Planning Commission and then come before the council.
“This is all fairly nascent,” Cutrano
said. “We are early in the process. We started to include some of those stipulations in different zoning packages for our housing element.”
Mayor Barbara Coler said the plan developed out of the housing element process. Residential zoning standards included details regarding lighting policy, which led officials to investigate possible conformance with the dark sky certification.
“The goal of a dark sky ordinance is to protect our community quality of life, our habitat and wildlife from light pollution,” she said.
Point Reyes Station resident Peggy Day, who helped spearhead the campaign in western Marin,