In order to preserve the city’s night skies, lessen glare, and direct responsible lighting design for future growth, the Clarkesville City Council unanimously approved a new outdoor lighting code Monday night.
The code establishes guidelines for all newly installed or altered outdoor lighting, including the need for completely cut-off fixtures in parking lots and the ban on uplighting. By reducing upward lighting and glare, the regulations aim to maintain natural evening conditions and avoid light trespass across property lines. In addition to temporary holiday illumination, security lights with sensors, and lighting for American flags, internally lit signs will still be allowed.
Although he backed the ordinance, Councilman Don Nix expressed disapproval of its tone. According to him, uplighting is effective when done correctly, and rather than forbidding it, we should promote more residential landscape lighting. I believe that the warm atmosphere created by the lights on Washington Street is crucial.
In order to help developers expedite the permitting process, Councilman Brad Coppedge proposed that the city create a preferred fixture list. Just to make sure there are no questions and it’s not a choice, I believe it would be a little bit simpler for developers to have a list of light fixtures to choose from, he added. It will expedite the entire procedure.
An intergovernmental agreement with Habersham County to join the Northeast Georgia Regional Radio Network was also overwhelmingly authorized by the council in other business. Through the arrangement, Clarkesville will have access to a new, county-managed E-911 and public safety radio system that will provide improved agency coordination, encrypted communication, and greater coverage.
Our current system will be far less effective than these radios. Keith Dickerson, the city manager, stated that it is night and day and that the transition will occur shortly. The radios won’t be installed for another sixty days.
The radios are presently being put through a rigorous testing process, Dickerson continued, and handheld units will be made available as soon as the transition is finished.
Alan Hoag’s appointment to the Planning and Zoning Commission and the renovation of five Clarkesville police cars were among the other items on the agenda that the council approved.
Habersham will have additional information on this subject on Tuesday. For updates, return here.
