In September 2021 the Ivins City Council approved final revisions to the Outdoor Lighting Ordinance. While there were some very objectionable proposed changes in the beginning, because of your comments and concerns, the final ordinance retains strong provisions that will help protect our night sky.
Some of the major changes include:
– Definitions and clarifications were added for Illuminated Signs, Correlated Color Temperature (CCT), Kelvin, height of luminaires and visible light source.
– Electronic Message Boards were listed under “Prohibited Lighting”.
– Maintained that the standard CCT for residential outdoor lighting and non-residential lighting for streets and parking lots shall be 3,000 degrees K or less.
– Inserted figures describing and providing requirements for light trespass, fully-shielded fixtures, walkway lighting, canopy lighting.
– Clarified that backlighting must not be visible beyond your property boundary.
– Requires security lighting be on a timer and not be triggered by off-property activity.
– Added requirements for private sport court facilities.
What’s happening with the Shivwits soccer fields?
If you have recently driven out Highway 91 past Fire Lake you may have noticed the earth-moving equipment behind the Shivwits Gas Station & Convenience Store. The Shivwits Band is constructing a soccer field complex complete with lighting for night games. Ivins Night Sky has been working with the Shivwits since March 2021 to influence the design of the lighting system so it minimizes the light pollution off-site. What we do not want is sports lighting similar to what exists at nearby Unity Park, Gubler Park and The Canyons Softball Fields where the lights are not properly shielded and broadcast light well beyond the sports fields into neighboring communities. The ultimate goal is a design that approaches the International Dark Sky Association’s criteria for ‘Community Friendly Sports Lighting’.
So far the Shivwits Band has taken this effort seriously, as they have a positive ethic towards environmental conservation and also want to minimize light pollution and its impact on Dark Skies. The reality is a well-designed lighting system is going to have additional costs and there will likely be a community fund-raising effort to help defray the incremental cost. More information will be following.
For more information, please click on these links:
Utah Youth Soccer Legacy Fields at Shivwits
A Soccer Mecca: Complex groundbreaking a big step for both Shivwits, Utah Youth Soccer Association
International Dark Sky Community-Friendly Sports Lighting Design Certification