A letter from a Concerned Citizen

Mayor Makepeace Vice Mayor Rivera,

My name is Matt Russell. My wife and two children are moving to Colorado Springs sometime in the 1st quarter of next year. We own 40 acres in the Black Forest and construction will begin soon. We are excited to move to the area.

It has come to my attention that there are some proposals regarding the addition of a substantial amount of exterior lighting around the city. I have a serious concern with CS City Planners and Inspectors who have historically exhibited a blatant disregard to a citizens right to privacy.

In the past couple of years as a visitor to your city, I have noticed serious infringements on light tresspass due to a Planning Committee that has failed to adopt a comprehensive plan which reduces light pollution. I strongly believe that everyone has a right to a dark sky at night without city skyglow intruding on their privacy. Minneapolis has failed and this is one reason why we chose to relocate Colorado Springs.

This problem happens from a wide range of things: intrusive commercial lighting (Motor City), street lighting (globe fixtures), billboards (lights that shine upwards), etc. This just doesn't affect city dwellers, but it also has a great impact on those residents who are living miles and miles away from the city.

I am not against development and exterior lighting, but I expect you are using full-cutoff fixtures for this project to limit the amount of stray light that is released into the sky. I just hope five years from now I won't want to move again due to the fact that it is light
at night.

My question is, what are your thoughts on this and what is being done with these proposals to minimize the risk of light tresspass to Colorado Springs and surrounding area residents? Or, is it still the intention of the Council to ignore this issue altogether?

Thank you for your time,

Matt Russell
612-325-8671