Kalispell light law is making strides

The Daily Inter Lake

Kalispell's dark-sky ordinance has been in force for three years now, and the news is good.

"Dark sky is working great here for new construction, very few snafus," Planning and Building Director Tom Jentz said.

"Really, it's a matter of picking out Fixture A versus Fixture B. A dark-sky fixture doesn't cost more than the other. It's the design, just culling out the proper fixtures in advance."

The electrical contracting community is well-versed in the concept, as the dark-sky movement is entrenched across the nation and there's a whole line of dark-sky-compliant fixtures available.

Kalispell's law applies citywide, but for enforcement purposes the planning department focuses on commercial properties. As new construction is permitted, planners work with businesses to install compliant lighting.

Retroactive enforcement kicks in for existing commercial properties on Jan. 1, 2010. Jentz said his department identified those in town that don't comply and mailed each of them two letters, letting them know of the upcoming deadline and how they can bring their lighting up to snuff.

Apartment buildings and other multifamily residences that operate as a business are inspected for compliance. But when it comes to private homes, Jentz said his department checks out offenders only after receiving a complaint.

The city worked with Flathead Electric Cooperative several years ago as it phased out its old mercury street lights and retrofitted them with energy-saving, dark-sky-compliant lamps.

Costco and Lowe's voluntarily worked with the planning department to follow dark-sky lighting standards even before the ordinance came into effect. But Home Depot, with its considerable night-time glow, is an example of a business that will have to come into compliance retroactively, Jentz said.

Kalispell was the first city in Flathead County to enforce a full-on dark-sky ordinance. Whitefish passed a similar ordinance three years ago that takes effect next week. Flathead County considered it, but didn't enact one. Columbia Falls makes dark skies part of subdivision requirements when a developer goes through the permitting process.

Cost hasn't been much of a factor, as it's just part of Kalispell's building and construction review process. And it doesn't have to be a factor with businesses, either. Some businesses even extinguish exterior lights late at night.

"Sometimes it's just tilting a light, sometimes it's just adding a shield and sometimes it's just swapping out a light bulb," Jentz said. "We're looking for as cheap a means of enforcement as possible."

Reporter Nancy Kimball can be reached at 758-4483 or by e-mail at nkimball@dailyinterlake.com