I moved into Maple Grove in 1988. In those olden, dark days, one could step outside and often view the northern lights and a wonderful night sky. That isn't possible any more. Development happened, inevitable, and with it came its glow. I miss the dark night sky but can't say I ever expected it to last.
While I surrender to development and the loss of the night, I do not accept a particular kind of obnoxious lighting common in Maple Grove; lighting that glares. It's an acknowledged quality of life issue and is addressed in building codes throughout the nation. Maple Grove has incorporated these building codes. Here is an example of lighting management in Maple Grove.
Consider the development taking place in the Northeast corner of Interstate 94 and CoRd 30. The area contains the new Target, Home Depot and The Grove shopping center.
Until last Summer (2007) the city was doing a wonderful job in managing light in this new development. (I was unaware of the Fairview development and its lighting. From my view, in the neighborhood, the Fairview parking lot lighting is hidden behind Fernbrook Elementary and a remaining treed area.) Except for a few lights at Home Depot and Target, parking and building light fixtures directed illumination downward and produced almost no glare. It was still "dark". North Memorial's lighting was exceptionally well done. These buildings, their lighting, were barely noticed from my home near 96th and Quantico.
Then 'The Groves', came on line, and all previous efforts, in my opinion, were ruined. 'The Groves' is the shopping complex between Target and Home Depot. It's lit up like an oil refinery or a car dealership. These premium light fixtures are designed like beacons, throwing glaring, high temperature bright white light sideways. These 'Grove' lights invade the neighborhood. A resident glancing North from 95th will suffer night blindness, and a night time walk on the path to Fernbrook Elementary now requires a hat to shade the Grove 'horizon'.
I have called the city and they have been accommodating. They acknowledge the problem. A meeting has been scheduled with Ryan. I'll update.
Neighbors may be surprised to find other neighborhoods, including older ones with just as much or more industry, are actually darker than Maple Grove. Their light control management is serious. As you drive around notice the lighting in different communities and developments. You'll be surprised and how it varies.
Send mail to glaringbrightlight@yahoo.com. Subject line must contain the word "LIGHT", else it's liable to windup in my spam folder. I will post messages if requested. I do not require names on the mail. I am not inclined to print any names.
Sec. 36-864. General provisions.
(13) Lighting
a. All off-street parking areas for residential uses of 12 or more spaces and all off-street parking for commercial, industrial, institutional, and public uses (except neighborhood parks as identified in the city's comprehensive park system and recreation plan, as amended) shall be equipped with operable lighting designed to illuminate the surface of the parking area to a foot-candlelevel of no more than eight, while maintaining an average illumination of one footcandle throughout the entire surface of the parking area.
b. No light standard shall be placed as a freestanding structure within the parking area, unless within a safety island if placed in such area, or shall be placed around the perimeter of the parking area.
c. All lighting must be so arranged as to reflect the light away from adjoining property, abutting residential uses, and public rights-of-way and be in compliance with section 36-819.
Sec. 36-819. Glare
(a) Any lighting used to illuminate an off-street parking area, sign or other structure shall be arranged so as to deflect light away from any adjoining residential zone or from the public streets. Direct or sky-reflected glare, where from floodlights or from high temperature processes such as combustion or welding, shall not be directed into any adjoining property. The source of lights shall be hooded or controlled in some manner so as not to light adjacent property. Bare incandescent lightbulbs shall not be permitted in view of adjacent property or public right-of-way.
(b) Any light or combination of lights which cast light on a public street shall not exceed one footcandle (meter reading) as measured from the centerline of the street. Any light or combination of lights which cast light on residential property shall not exceed one footcandle (meter reading) as measured from such property. (Code 1984, § 375:12(9))
First shot at night photography didn't work well. I'll try again; this time with a tripod. It's difficult to show the effects of this lighting. The offending fixtures just have a bright glow. It doesn't communicate the "irritation". Working on it.
last update April, 2008
this https://eightpm.angelfire.com/index.html
