The Buncombe County Commissioners passed an amended ordinance on light control. Amateur astronomers were very happy. Mike Plemmons with CIBO was not. Even though Commissioner Holly Jones read the amendments to the public at the meeting, he said people in the business community and farmers out in the county didn’t have a chance to vet the matter. Getting a heads up from Jones minutes before the regularly-scheduled meeting was insufficient time to get the word out. With an earlier announcement, Plemmons suspected the opinions aired in the commissioners’ chambers might have shown some diversity. Plemmons had been invited to meetings to review the initial ordinance, but he and other stakeholders had no clue meetings were being held to formalize proposed amendments. Plemmons didn’t oppose the ordinances so much as the process. County Attorney Mike Frue appeared also to have reservations, although he is not in a position to advise the commissioners. He hinted that the Planning and Zoning Board did not have a chance to vet the amendments, either. Commissioner Carol Weir Peterson voted against the proposal out of concern for what the astronomy-insecure community might think. Nobody took up for earthworms that must burrow lower to find moist soil when the bright night lights flood their habitat. The rights of Plants against Discoloration, Florets for Full Dew Amounts, and Displaced Roaches United were not represented.
by Leslee Kulba
Wild West blogger