This past May, the town of Woodfin implemented a new Dark-Sky ordinance that created a more stringent set of rules for all outdoor lighting within city limits.  With the construction of Reynolds Village currently underway, this was a perfect opportunity for Woodfin to not only improve the quality of the night sky, but also to help curb the presence of increasing light pollution.  Specifically, the ordinance calls for all streetlights to use fully shielded fixtures, for canopy lighting to be flush-mounted, and that floodlighting must be directed downward. Woodfin outdoor lighting that is currently under older ordinances will be grandfathered in, and as the ballasts fail, will be replaced with lighting that complies with the new ordinance.

“The natural beauty of Western North Carolina is one of our greatest assets.  It is with this in mind that we advocated for and participated in the development and adoption of a new lighting ordinance for the Town of Woodfin.  We believe that this new ordinance will minimize light pollution, conserve energy and benefit the residents of Woodfin and the surrounding community”, said Vic Knight, President of Reynolds Mountain Communities.

A long time proponent of preservation, Knight was instrumental in bringing the Dark-Sky initiative to Woodfin. Reynolds Mountain Communities serves as a model development for its widespread use of compliant fixtures and its minimal “footprint” on the night skies.

– Blog originally posted by Reynolds Mountain