By Dolores Sauca Lorusso

A zoning bylaw amendment designed to prevent light pollution has received unanimous support from the advisory board and the planning board and will be on the annual town meeting warrant on May 1.

According to the warrant, Article 12’s intent is to “create standards for outdoor lighting so that its use does not unreasonably interfere with the reasonable use and enjoyment of property within the town of Hull.”

The proposal also would “encourage through the regulation of types, construction, installation, and uses outdoor electrically powered illuminating devices, lighting practices, and systems which will reduce light pollution, light trespass, and glare in order to preserve and enhance the natural, scenic, and aesthetic qualities of Hull, conserve energy, and decrease lighting cost without decreasing nighttime safety, security, and productivity, and preserve the night sky as a natural resource to enhance  enjoyment of property within Hull.”

The bylaw proposal contains specifications for the strength of lighting used, as well as screening requirements to prevent nearby properties from being adversely affected by bright lights.

“The essence is LED lights cause annoyance for abutters. They are so much brighter than anything before; they are blinding,” said planning board member Jeanne Paquin. “Currently the planning board requires developers to comply with dark sky lighting without a bylaw, so this is just codifying it.”

Dan Sullivan of the advisory board, who said he supported the bylaw, questioned why it only applies to the Commercial Rec A, B, and C, and Multi-Family A and B zoning districts, but not Single-Family.

“We are not going to be the light police,” Paquin replied. “It is coming from the planning board and we do not deal with single families.”

In devising the bylaw, Nathan Peyton made it clear to the rest of the planning board that developers will still be held to the standards of traditional review processes.

“We have site plan review for a reason,” Peyton said. “People have been known to hyperlight their store front to also light the street and call attention to their business.”

Members said the planning board, which must approve lighting for projects as part of the site plan review or special permit, has not encountered opposition to this concept.

 “There is value in setting standards and indicating to people what is not desirable,” Peyton said.

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