By Mary O’KEEFE

The question about lights being installed in La Crescenta neighborhoods and additional ones on Foothill Boulevard has resulted in recent discussions at Crescenta Valley Town Council meetings. The council moved to have the Land Use Committee work on recommendations prior to putting the issue on a CVTC meeting agenda.

On Oct. 6, the Land Use Committee met and discussed the issue, which includes adding lights to neighborhoods and areas surrounding Foothill Boulevard. The issue came to the attention of the town council after a church, Gethsemane Lutheran Church in the 2600 block Orange Avenue, applied for a permit to add lights to its property. Neighbors were concerned it would affect their quality of life by shining into their homes.

The realization that neighbors would have no say in the utility-type lighting near their homes launched the discussion at the Land Use Committee although members offered no clear “for” or “against” the issue. Committee members concluded that the community is in disagreement on the general issue of lighting along neighborhood streets.

La Crescenta neighborhood streets have very little lighting. For some residents, that is the charm of rural living and they do not want lights, especially if they will interfere with their property. Others are in favor of lights.

The LUC discussed possibly including lighting regulations in the Community Standards District, which is being worked on by a committee presently, but adding regulations was voted down by all members. They did not want the CSD process to be slowed down by adding another layer of discussion and possible debate. Instead the LUC agreed to have the CSD committee continue to move forward while the lighting issue would be taken on as a separate issue.

LUC member Ines Chessum suggested that a public forum or information meeting be held to let the community explore the various light options now available including LED lighting.

“We are going to need to explore and do more research,” she suggested.

At the end of the meeting it was decided that an invitation would be sent to an expert on public lighting whom Chessum had contacted in the past and a community information night would be held as a special meeting at a larger venue. The meeting was scheduled, depending on the speaker’s time, for Jan. 25.

  Mary Okeefe