Northampton to act on outdoor lighting rules

The city of Northampton plans to vote on a new outdoor lighting policy before the year ends and a new City Council forms.

The policy aims to reduce light pollution and improve night-time safety by setting new standards for outdoor lighting in the city.

The standards would require that new lights have full cut-off fixtures, use LED bulbs, and have the minimum lumens needed. The policy would not affect existing city lights, but would likely apply to the Picture Main Street project, which involves installing new lights on wider sidewalks.

The policy has been in the works for several years, with some interruptions. It would have some exceptions, such as temporary lighting for events, pool lighting, and athletic field lighting.