To the editor: The Great Falls Citizens Association (GFCA) has a long history of advocacy for preservation of dark skies in the community. Chris Rich, vice president of the organization and co-chair of its Environment & Parks Committee, recently commented on the Fairfax County government’s recently published draft text and a summary of proposed changes to a draft amendment on outdoor lighting.
“I’m pleased to see recent changes taking into account concerns raised by neighbors during the GFCA’s meetings on this amendment,” Rich said. “County staff have worked closely with GFCA to obtain input from the organization and from residents who would be affected by the ordinance.”
“Reaching common ground on how to protect the dark skies in the area, especially around the county observatory, is a goal of the state law that authorizes this local legislative action,” he added. “It’s also consistent with one of GFCA’s goals to recognize the importance of promoting public awareness and benefits of guarding against excessive and misdirected artificial light at night.”
Rich and GFCA Land Use & Zoning and Environment and Parks Committee leaders Jennifer Falcone and Winifred Frost have conducted meetings on the subject since March 2022. They’ve gathered feedback from GFCA members and others in the community and evaluated the pros and cons of plans to adopt a Dark Sky Preserve Amendment. Based on feedback, they developed various options submitted to county-government staff for their consideration.
They noted that, based on comments received, their options have been undergoing revisions. Comments received have ranged from full support for reducing all lighting levels and requiring residents to replace non-compliant outdoor lighting fixtures with dark-sky-compliant fixtures over time, to objections that any efforts to make current outdoor lighting regulations more restrictive, within the half-mile radius of the Great Falls Observatory, are unacceptable and represent government overreach.
“The process continues and won’t be concluded until formal public hearings are conducted following a decision by the Board of Supervisors to advertise the proposed amendment,” Falcone said.
Because of that, GFCA’s Board will await publication of the final draft language of the proposed amendment before it submits its position.
“We are concerned that Observatory Park at Turner Farm is a county-wide facility, and there needs to be a balanced response and attention to future preservation of our dark skies,” Frost said. “We look forward to hearing from our community on this important issue.”
Since 1968, the Great Falls Citizens Association has worked on behalf of the residents of Great Falls to protect, defend and improve the quality of life in the community. Its mission is to preserve the semi-rural character of the community while addressing practical concerns like traffic, zoning, retail, schools, parks and the environment where problems arise and solutions must be found.
Great Falls Citizens Association
