Sam Ferguson/The Aspen Times Archive
Snowmass initiated a new code last week to protect his night sky.
On September 17th, the city set up its updated outdoor lighting code, which set the output block for the use of outdoor light, introduces a window for the use of holiday light, limits the brightness of outdoor lights and much more.
“We want to preserve the naturally dark sky for the benefit of residents, visitors and wild animals and our environment,” said Sara Nester, Compliance manager of Snowmass' Community Development Code.
The code enables the “lighting violation” to be enabled, the “measurable light that goes beyond the limit of its area of use”, both for commercial and residential areas. The city can enforce the violation if the light extends beyond the property boundary according to the code.
It can only enforce the city's lighting between the “night hours” of the city from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. for the non-essential outdoor lighting of residential buildings. Companies are freed from the restriction when their operating times fall within the window. At this point, the restrictions apply within one hour after completing or opening a company.
The code requires that all luminaire light sources are directed downwards by a fixed cap on the lighting treatment or a “shield”. Light sources that have not been manufactured do not require a sign.
With the updated code, the city measures the light in Lumen, a metric for light output and not for watts, a metric for the energy consumption that the city previously used.
“This type of updates for what is on the market and is then appropriate for the city,” said Greg Lablanc, deputy city administrator of Snowmass.
For dormitories, unprotected light sources must not exceed 850 lumens per light or light unit and are covered with a maximum of two lights per apartment.
The code also made a defined window that made it possible for residential areas from November 15 to January 31 and from March 15th to 1st in commercial zones.
“The seasonal lighting should not affect the safe movement of motor vehicles or create dangerous glare conditions on adjacent roads or real estate,” says the code. “The seasonal lighting is to be maintained in an attractive state and does not represent a dangerous situation or risk of fire.”
According to the code, seasonal lighting must be eliminated from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. during the night.
“Festive lighting” or electrical lamps that are stretched on a wire and fixed between at least two points must also stick to the night hours for both residential and commercial areas.
The feston lighting is considered seasonal lighting in residential areas and is only permitted between November 15 and January 31, according to the temporary seasonal lighting regulations.
Commercial festive lighting is allowed all year round. The codes traps the brightness of the commercial feston lighting at 50 lumens per lamp, without the feast beam being allowed to exceed 25 lumens per foot according to the nests.
After the updated code, the city will operate a complaint area.
“The person who complains must identify in writing and submit a formal complaint,” says the code.
Skyler Stark-Ragsdale can be reached at 970-429-9152 or an email to sstark-ragsdale@aspentimes.com.