ATM starting in my backyard

["Bryan Greer" <bgreer@fpi-protostar.com>]

Hi all,

A couple of weeks ago, I was dismayed to learn that a large truck stop/restaurant 
plaza was going to be built within a mile of my parent's home.  My parents live in 
the country about 30 miles north of Columbus, Ohio.  As a teenager, my interest in 
astronomy began there, fostered by the relatively dark skies.  Realizing that 
truck stops around here are notorious for using those nasty, megawatt, flood lamps 
for lighting their parking lots, I was worried.  These facilities, at their worst, 
can wipe out horizons for tens of miles around.

This scenario accelerated my plans to attend a local township trustee meeting.  
Last night (Monday) was a zoning board hearing at the township hall, and I attended 
hoping to talk with the new owner of the establishment.  I had some IDA literature 
with me, as well as copies of the current lighting ordinances for Troy Township 
(the location of the new business), which are quite lax.

The meeting was sparsely attended and the owner was not present, though his 
attorney was.  During the open floor session, I stood and gave a brief statement 
about my concerns over the lighting issue.  To keep it as simple as possible, I 
pointed out some local examples of both good and bad lighting that the new owner 
could examine.

I was relieved to find that the man's attorney (a intellectual-looking female) was 
most receptive to my concerns.  She even stated her own personal displeasure with 
"upward casting" lighting near her house.  She stated that she felt her client 
would be eager to work with the local residents in an effort to minimize the glare. 
 (After the meeting, we met and talked outside where we exchanged names and I 
passed on the IDA literature to her.)

I followed up by handing the trustees a copy of the Liberty Township lighting 
ordinance (covering Perkins Observatory at 
http://www.fpi-protostar.com/cas/liberty.htm) and urging them to consider upgrading 
Troy Township's lighting ordinances to a similar level.  The board seemed 
receptive, and sited a recent tour of Perkins Observatory given by Tom Burns a few 
years back.  Apparently I was not the first person to bring up this issue with 
them.  A follow up will be needed here to urge the passing of these new 
regulations.

I am encouraged by this experience, though I won't breath easy until I actually see 
what is installed at the truck plaza.  Some people's idea of "full cutoff lighting" 
may deviate a bit from ours, so there is still reason for concern.  I plan to also 
follow up with letters to the business owner and the township trustees.  I will 
post any results here.

Sincerely,
Bryan Greer
Columbus Astronomical Society
http://www.fpi-protostar.com/cas/