Before you purchase new outdoor lights, it’s worth checking out the recent updates to Easton’s exterior lighting regulations. The town’s zoning laws have been updated to address issues regarding migratory birds, light pollution and overall community well-being.
The updates require outdoor lights to face downward and have specific times when they should be turned off. This helps to minimize negative effects on birds and creates a more environmentally friendly and considerate approach to outdoor lighting.
Zoning allows existing exterior lighting to be grandfathered in. The town does not expect anyone to remove existing fixtures, but it recognizes that lighting can be a nuisance to neighbors and an environmental hazard.
“There have been concerns in general, particularly for migratory birds, and there have been some citizen complaints as well,” said First Selectman David Bindelglass. “It’s not fun living around someone who keeps their lights on.”
The updates address a global problem with nighttime lighting disrupting the natural behaviors of migratory birds and endangering their journeys. Night-migrating birds are attracted to lights pointed upwards at the sky and outwards. This leads to disorientation and alters migration patterns, resulting in collisions and exhaustion, according to the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service. Furthermore, light pollution may interfere with foraging and feeding habits, disturb habitats, and deplete the energy reserves of these birds.
A Connecticut state law went into effect earlier this year requiring all state-owned buildings to dim nonessential outdoor lights after 11 p.m. all year round to protect birds from the harmful effects of light pollution at night.
Justin Giorlando, the town’s land use consultant, said that the regulations, which used to apply to any development activity requiring a special permit approval, now include all development. The primary goal of the changes is to make Easton more neighborly while also caring for the environment, he said.
The updated regulations are available online on the town website. Residents can review the entire zoning regulation document, gaining insights into the changes made to address the impact of exterior lighting on the community and the environment.
By addressing the negative impacts of light pollution on the environment, and the migratory patterns of birds, Easton is taking proactive steps to create a more harmonious coexistence between residents and the natural world, said Bindelglass.
“This is part of a wider picture of making Easton greener and more environmentally friendly,” said Bindelglass.
