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Medford mulls over fade to black Ordinance would protect night sky By Jessica Smith Stargazers have one request of city leaders: they�d like to be left in the dark. The Site Plan and Architectural Commission is looking at an ordinance that would protect night skies for star lovers by regulating street lights. "You just can�t see the stars when you�re in Medford," said Commissioner Maurice Whitlock, a one-time amateur astronomer and telescope builder. "Six miles away in Jacksonville, it�s pretty clear. But here in this little pocket it�s terrible." Although the Medford area is prone to hazy summertime skies � cool air sinks into the valley at night, becoming trapped as warmer air rises, creating a film � lights that shine up into the sky also are part of the problem. "The feeling now is that there�s a big glow over Medford and you can�t see the night sky," said Jon Elliott, commission chairman. "This (ordinance) is a new way of looking at lighting up the city at night." Taking its cue from cities such as Tucson, Ariz., the commission began working a few months ago to draft an ordinance that seeks to hood lampposts to prevent light from escaping into the sky. The issue also has come up in Ashland, where parks commissioners have discussed adopting a policy that would limit the amount of light pollution from city parks. Not only would the Medford plan prevent artificial light from spoiling a starry night, the ordinance also would increase energy efficiency by directing light where it�s needed, site plan commissioners say. The ordinance would require hooded or covered lampposts on city-owned property and in commercial developments. Existing lighting structures would remain until they needed to be replaced, under the proposal. For individual home owners, replacing outdoor fixtures would be voluntary. Elliott said the commission plans to prepare brochures that describe the benefits of substituting existing lights with the hooded variety. The commission expects to review a draft of the ordinance at one of its July meetings. If approved, the ordinance would be forwarded to the Medford City Council for final action. Obituaries | Sports | Business | Classifieds | Tempo | Prime Times | So Oregon Sites | Outdoor Journal | Subscribe | Contact | Movies | Advertise | Real Estate Showcase | Archive | Editorials | Letters to the editor | Religion | Wake-up Call | NIE | Cyber Chef | Job Network | So Oregon Weather | WSJ Northwest | Forums | AP Wire | AP Money | F.A.Q. | Awards Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. The Community Newspaper Subsidiary of Dow Jones & Co, Inc Copyright �The Mail Tribune 2000, Medford, Oregon USA