Real Estate in Barrington & The Northwest Suburbs: Barrington Hills 60010-HALO-A Dark Sky Community or Not?

Barrington Hills 60010-HALO-A Dark Sky Community or Not?

If you have driven through Barrington Hills lately you must have seen the yellow HALO signs. What are they all about?

If you have not heard there are members of the community and board of trustees that want Barrington Hills to become a member of The International Dark Sky Association. A community that joins becomes known as a Dark Sky Community. Simply the community reduces it's use of lights to benefit science, the environment and the residents. The proposed ordinance calls for minimizing unnecessary outdoor lighting. It has limitations on lumens per acre, the direction lights are pointed and the number of hours lights can remain on.

What about the cost? Is it fair to Barrington Hills residents to make them pay for changes to their outdoor lighting to be in line with the new ordinance. It might not be so bad if yours is a tract house on a PUD with 2 outside lights. Many of the homes in Barrington Hills need considerable outside lighting but that does not mean all the owners are totally stupid and leave all lights on all the time. They are used accordingly for security and at the Holidays for decoration. The words I would use for lighting in Barrington Hills is "Very Tasteful".

Consider the safety aspects. Barrington Hills is a beautiful oasis of countryside, with winding streets hills and dales and green grass to be seen for miles. Houses are spread far apart due to the size of lots they are built on. 5 acres are common but many are 10, 20 or more. How would you like to drive home late one night into your dark driveway, get out of the car and have to enter your home with no lights to guide you. Personally that would give me the creeps if I was alone. We may have a very low crime rate in Barrington Hills but this seems to wave a red flag to potential burglars that this is place they can come and not be seen.

Realistically in Barrington Hills you are more likely to see a horse than a street lamp.

Can I see the good side to this? Yes I agree that having lights on all the time is a waste and I can see other benefits but I do not agree it should become an ordinance. There is a petition against this ordinance and you can sign it here, leave your comments if you wish. http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/unplug-the-lighting-ordinance.html You have to join and then you can add your details.

How many American Communities have joined to date. Two, yes two, Flagstaff AZ and Borrego Springs CA. Barrington Hills 60010 would be the third.

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