Dark Skies Bylaw Coming to Electoral Areas

The Regional District of North Okanagan is looking to include a Dark Skies policy for inclusion in its Subdivision Servicing Bylaw for the electoral areas.

Light pollution from man-made sources can impact bird species and also impact urban ability to view the moon and stars at night.

RNDO Board Chair Bob Fleming says implementing this action will mitigate that issue in future.

“Its trying to keep that in mind when sub-divisions are being developed so that you are not lighting up the sky unnecessarily when a sub-division goes in.”

Fleming says the City of Vernon has some guidelines for lighting, but this would be a first as a bylaw.

“I think this is a first move initiated by Director McNabb to bring it into our Subdivison Serving Bylaw and maybe others will contemplate the same thing.”

Fleming says it will make night viewing of the sky for people and birds a whole lot better.

“People living in those areas, if a new road is put in on some larger lots and if street lights and lot lights are glaring it changes everything. Its just better if things are more subdued.”

Types of lighting allowed and possible shields will be considered for all new sub-divisions in the electoral areas…but the bylaw won’t affect existing ones.