The voter approved Cave Creek General Plan and the Town Council’s Strategic Plan, call for Cave Creek to be a Dark Sky town. Per the town’s website: “Cave Creek has some of the best stargazing opportunities in the state, and for many, our dark skies make Cave Creek one of the many reasons we have chosen to call it “home.”
Any interaction I have in this community is to protect the town’s rural character, this is my home. People want to visit Cave Creek and hotel concierges often recommend it as a destination. The CC Rodeo Grounds are used more and more for events, there are many art fairs, our restaurants and bars are busy, Taste of Cave Creek, Bike Week, and the Cave Creek Dark Sky (CCDS) Annual Star Gazing Party in Spur Cross all contribute, whether you approve of or participate in these events, the Town is a success, lets enjoy it.
Town Staff has prepared Lighting Ordinance Text Amendments that align with Dark Sky International (DSI) Lighting Guidelines. These are national, up-to-date, best lighting practices to prevent light pollution as the population of Cave Creek continues to grow.
Reducing light pollution does NOT mean no lights, it means using lights correctly. Recently, research in light pollution is showing how excessive night light is harming human health.
If Cave Creek becomes a Certified Dark Sky town it provides a framework to promote best lighting practices through education and self-compliance for implementation, not enforcement. DSI is not a government agency, nor do they provide enforcement or sell products.
I urge the Council to Vote YES to achieve Dark Sky Certification. Let’s Do Light Right along with eight other Arizona towns and cities who have achieved Certification.
Let’s be HAPPY!
Bruce Arlen,
Cave Creek Dark Sky
