Category: Outreach

Updating the General Plan and Protecting the Night SkyWhat is the General Plan and why is it important?
Ivins City has just begun the process of reviewing our current General Plan that was last updated in 2015. The General Plan is an essential document that lays out our shared vision and goals for the future and guides the ordinances that are written and govern the city’s development. It should include what we most value and what is worth protecting and it is really important that we all participate in developing a new Plan. Chapter Three of the current Plan outlines “The Community’s Vision” for the Future  and the fifteen goals that were important in 2015. (For more detailed information read Councilman Mike Scott’s explanation of the process) 
Protecting the Night Sky is included in our current Plan’s “Vision for the Future” and we recently experienced the importance of that designation when some members of the Planning Commission suggested deleting that protection when they were updating the Lighting Ordinance. All ordinances should follow the General Plan and that is why it is so very important for all of us who cherish our night sky to participate in the Town Hall meetings and make sure protection of our night sky continues to be one of our guiding principles.   There are five more town hall meetings scheduled to gather citizen input and although there are recommendations of specific neighborhoods attending a certain meeting, all citizens are welcome to attend any meeting (or all) that best fits their schedule.  The meeting will also be available by Zoom. 

Tuesday, October 11th and 25th for residents living east of 200 East  (we’re sorry if you missed the meeting on the 11th but you can still attend any of the others)
11th Zoom link
25th Zoom link

Wednesday, October 12th and 26th for residents living between 200 East and 400 West
12th Zoom link
26th Zoom link

Thursday, October 13th and 27th for residents living wwest of 400 West
13th Zoom link
27th Zoom link

In addition to people sending emails to the City Council, as of March 15^th almost 1,200 Ivins residents, all adults, added their names to a Letter of Support to preserve and protect our night sky, objecting to some of the proposed changes to the Ivins Outdoor Lighting Ordinance. (Note: The list of names will be sent separately to the City Recorder.)

If you agree with the Letter of Support, please add your name (click here). A few weeks ago we had close to 600 names, but that did not impress the Planning Commission. You would think that would have been meaningful. Apparently not. So we need your help.

The map shows there is broad-based support throughout the city for the statements made in the Letter of Support.

The map understates the level of support because it makes only one plot when: (a) two or more adults live at one address, (b) when supporters list only a street name, HOA name, or neighborhood name, and (c) more people have signed since we did the map and more sign every day.

A Planning Commissioner suggested that the ordinance doesn’t matter to people living in HOAs because HOAs can have more restrictive lighting requirements. However, this broad-based support shows people are more community minded. They care about the whole community, not just their own back yard.

And any legitimate concerns about safety can be addressed in other ways, as discussed in the posts, Shedding light on crime trends in Ivins and Talking about color temperature raises everyone’s temperature.

LETTER OF SUPPORT

If you agree with the Letter of Support, please add your name (click here).

I support a strong lighting ordinance that:

• “Protect(s) the night sky by carefully regulating lighting while also promoting safety for residents” as stated in the Ivins General Plan;
• maintains all references to “preserve, protect and enhance the night sky” in the Ordinance.

I support these proposed changes:

• Prohibiting the use of electronic message boards;
• lowering the max. output on lighting of our national and state flag from 6000 to 1500 lumens;
• grandfathering existing lighting;
• new and revised definitions and minor clean-up language.

I DO NOT support these proposed changes:

• Increasing the color temperature to 4000K for all outdoor lights (up from 2200K for commercial properties and streetlights and 2700K for residential);
• allowing no upper limit on color temperature as long as they are motion activated with timers;
• eliminating the use of amber filters to lower color temperature for streetlights and commercial;

I DO NOT support ANY of the other proposed changes to the ordinance because they weaken protections for neighbors, increase the risk of glare and light trespass, are contrary to the vision and goals in the General Plan, weaken enforceability, and create ambiguity.

Marc Deshowitz discussed health concerns that accompany the evolution of lighting (Incandescent, HPS, LPS CFL and LED) at last Thursday’s City Council meeting. He also talked about the consequences of the use of energy efficient lighting and safety issues relating to nighttime driving and crime. 

Click here to download a PDF of the slides from Marc’s presentation. And click here to listen to Marc’s presentation (go to item 2A if you want to skip other parts of the meeting.)

Marc and his wife Chrystal retired in 2008 and are currently employed by Dixie Road Scholar where they jointly lead educational excursions across the Colorado Plateau and beyond.

Marc’s interest in preserving our night sky, and background as a scientist, has led him to perform independent research on light pollution over the past ten years and he has experience in the design and implementation of light retrofitting projects in our area. He has provided presentations and advice on night sky preservation at local and state levels in both Utah and Nevada.

We have commissioned professional artist Anat Ronen to participate in this year’s Kayenta Street Painting Festival April 27th and 28th with a street painting showing her interpretation of the night sky over Ivins.

While Anat’s artwork will draw attention to the beauty and importance of our night sky, we will participate in the Festival with an information table to answer questions about the Initiative and share dark-sky friendly lighting information.

What can you do to help maintain our beautiful night sky?

• Use shielded outdoor fixtures
• Install timers and motion-sensors
• Use lower rated bulbs
• Use “warmer” bulbs – look for 2700k or lower on packages

Contact us to tell us you support our efforts and/or to volunteer to help improve, preserve, and protect the night sky over Ivins.