Fairfax officials move toward ‘dark sky’ ordinance
The town is joining an effort in western Marin to curtail the light emissions that diminish nocturnal views.
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 on 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, said she was glad to see the effort gain steam elsewhere.
“We are all working to preserve the view of the Milky Way and stars. Here in West Marin, and from one zone to the next, there is intense light,” she said. “Fairfax seeking their own dark sky ordinance is good news for all of us.”
She said the effort in Fairfax could encourage other municipalities in Marin to follow suit. If other cities pass ordinances and then receive the designation, she added, it could encourage the county to join in.
Day said that efforts at the county level remained uncertain. She said her group is working to build public support to advocate for an ordinance.
“That is one thing we are waiting on,” Day said. “They have to decide if the citizens of Marin want a lighting ordinance before they do it.”