J. Scott Shaw: Lobby for lighting ordinance

Tuesday night, the Athens-Clarke County Commission passed a crummy light ordinance. A comprehensive, effective "full loaf" ordinance, based on those of many other towns across America, had been reduced to a pile of crumbs by the planning commission. At Tuesday's meeting, Commissioner Kelly Girtz proposed a "half a loaf is better than none" compromise, but that was voted down.

The ordinance that passed allows your neighbor to mount floodlights in trees that illuminate your bedroom. It allows glaring commercial lights to be replaced with no improvement in shielding, if the replacement is spread over four years. It allows parking-lot lighting to remain on long after businesses are closed and cars are gone from the lots, just to name a few of the ordinance's failings.

To their credit, the commissioners agreed excessive light is a problem. However, as Commissioner Andy Herod stated, they lacked the will to do more than the little they did. I urge Athens citizens who can't see when they drive at night because of glare, or who would prefer not to have their property lit by their neighbors, to help provide the commissioners some will by sending them e-mails and letters supporting a strong lighting ordinance.

J. Scott Shaw

• J. Scott Shaw is an astronomy professor at the University of Georgia.

Comment on "J. Scott Shaw: Lobby for lighting ordinance"