Date

Mr. Chris Darling
Region of Durham Planning Department
1615 Dundas Street East
4th floor, Lang Tower, West Building
Whit by, ON L1N 6A3


Re: Official Plan Review -Environmental Issues


PARAGRAPH 1. Purpose of letter.

Urge you to include provisions in the Regional Official Plan that will deal with light
pollution.


PARAGRAPH 2. Explain Light Pollution and how it affects you.

Evidence of light pollution includes:

	the increasing opaque glow in our night sky as evidence of energy wasted needlessly;

	lighting that produces glare in our 'line-of-sight'which is blinding and is a safety
	hazard to pedestrians and motorists; and

	unshielded,or excessive lighting levels that intrudes into nearby homes,yards and
	natural areas.


PARAGRAPH 3. Reaffirm your commitment to this issue and provide solutions.

Concerned about light polution.

Region to provide broad policy framework to guide improvements in nighttime visibility and
public safety,conserve energy in our community, and protect the night sky as a heritage
resource of natural value scientific interest.

Require area municipal official plans to adopt polices to deal with light pollution, similar to
the provisions included in the City of Pickering Official Plan.

Require area municipalities to enact light pollution abatement by-laws to prohibit:

	aiming/shining light upward into the sky,where it serves no useful purpose;

	creating glare in our 'line-of-sight',and intrudes into private properties/natural
	areas as light trespass;

	excessively bright light that exceeds recognized industry recommendations; and

	unshielded lighting fixtures that do not direct light down where it is needed and
	allows glare and the spill of light into neighboring properties and the night sky.


PARAGRAPH 4. Ask for a response and request to be notified of upcoming steps in the review
process.


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