Rehoboth Beach's pet peeve legislative caucus is at it again. The environmental advisory committee is on track to propose an ordinance to the mayor and commissioners that would outlaw landscape lighting and other outdoor illuminations after midnight.
Proponents would have you believe the ordinance under consideration simply would address nuisance lighting and move the town in the direction of dark-sky compliance. However, and as noted in the Cape Gazette, article, “As proposed, there would be a midnight curfew for all exterior lights.”
As for the cost of retrofitting existing household and business lighting to comply with new illumination limits, proponents can only offer word salad answers.
And, as if the proposal weren’t bad enough, we are told its enforcement will be complaint-driven. In other words, the success of the ordinance depends on neighbors turning against neighbors. What could go wrong with that?
Commissioners need to hear from their constituents before this nuisance of an ordinance becomes law.
James Johnson
Rehoboth Beach
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