Residents’ petition forces city to revise “monster” street lighting upgrades

By The New Pelican Newspaper | on March 10, 2023

By Kristen Hernandez | New Pelican Writer

Pompano Beach – A protest led by Fairway Heights resident Cynthia Corbett-Elder has produced results for her neighbors.

Back in January, she presented the commission with a petition signed by 22 of the 27 people living in the 2300-2500 block of Northeast 15 Terrace. They demanded engineers cease installing 30-foot light poles meant to upgrade street lighting in the area.

What had been presented to homeowners on her street was a plan showing smaller poles. Corbert-Elder said.

"Streetlights are a source of light pollution, which can have serious environmental consequences for humans, wildlife and our climate, and prohibits the view of the beautiful night sky," Corbett-Elder told the New Pelican. "Instead of those pretty 17.5-foot decorative poles featured in the brochures, the city gave the small residential streets in Fairways Heights giant 30-foot monster light poles."

Petitioners demanded installation of the light poles cease until residents are properly informed and approve the higher units.

"In 2016, an American Medical Association report limits street lighting to 3000k or less, which supported a 2010 International Dark Sky Association study on the detriment of street lighting on humans and nature. You guys are using 4000k," said Corbett-Elder to the commission.

Commissioner Rhonda Eaton responded that someone from the city would respond to her questions.

That evening, Corbett-Elder returned home to find a sticky note and business cards from Engineering Project Manager III Tammy Good, and City Engineer John Sfiropoulos taped to her mailbox. The note said, "Cyndy, it was not necessary for you to attend the commission meeting. John and I would like to meet with you to discuss your concerns."

The light from a pole as it shines into a resident's home when she opens her front door. [Nancy Barber]

A 4000k LED "monster" 30 foot light pole. [Cynthia Corbett-Elder]

The Memphis Holophane design choices for a 17.5-foot decorative light pole. [FPL]

Good said her note was left to acknowledge Corbett-Elder's frustration and to inform her of their willingness to meet. Good admits during a text message exchange with Corbett-Elder, "Perhaps execution of the design could be improved upon, and we will continue our efforts to ensure these improvements are made."

FPL and the city design team worked together to choose two unique fixtures.

One is the Memphis Holophane, the decorative unit pictured in the G.O. Bond brochure. The other is a more conventional and updated, Cobra-like unit in a 30-foot high mounting with a 6-foot arm.

When the lighting upgrade project was initially shown to District 2 homeowners with insufficient street lighting, residents were given snapshots of the smaller Memphis Holophane poles with decorative flags and LED lighting, like those on North Harbor Drive.

According to City Clerk Kervin Alfred, "To provide full coverage for the 27 homes on the cul-de-sac where Corbett-Elder lives, the design required eigh poles, spaced 80 to 150 feet apart using the larger, Cobra-like units. The design including the smaller, 17.5 foot poles would have required many more poles."

Following several emails exchanged between Corbett-Elder and city officials, construction of the fixtures on her street was halted and city engineers began working to revise the plan.

"There may be occasions where light intensity meets minimum standards but produces a visual discomfort, and for these isolated cases shields can be installed on the back side of the fixture," said Good in a text message to Corbett-Elder.

The revised plan includes a reduction of eight to seven poles using the 30-foot fixtures. Location marks for poles will be moved from front yards to the property lines. Corbett-Elder received a copy of the city's revised plan March 1. "Even seven light poles on our small street is overkill. Four would be an adequate number," she said.

Visit pompanobeachfl.gov under the CRA Projects section for updates on construction throughout the city.

Kristen Hernandez, I am actually in Cresthaven just N of Copans..used to be called Golfview..I have pictures of 13 of these lights we can see around our house and 3 more will be lit up soon..16 lights surrounding us. and yes, 1 is in the middle of our newest neighbors yard!

The same thing is going on in The Pompano Estates neighborhood We are lit up like an airport around here we cannot sit in the backyard and enjoy the evening The lights shine in my whole backyard and into my bedroom windows .. please contact me and i will provide further details.

Also, when they say a "shade"" can be attached to the backside of these lights..how does this help us when all of the lights are facing us ??

I live across the street from Cindy.I got up and went outside at 5am in January, well before sunrise. I had no problem seeing my way along the street. Plenty enough light from nearby streets and shopping centers.

Installing more lights is a "solution" we don't need to a problem that does not exist. Spending tax dollars that could go elsewhere. Our houses have been here for more than 40 years without city street lights. Let's leave it that way!

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