Virgin citizens are overwhelmingly concerned about dark skies. According to the International Dark- Sky Association, a dark sky ordinance means that lights:
- Only be on when needed
- Only light the area that needs it
- Be no brighter than necessary
- Minimize blue light emissions (blue light brightens the night sky more than any other color of light)
- Be fully shielded (pointing downward)
At the start of my first term in 2022, only Helper, Utah and Torrey, Utah had dark sky ordinances. Helper and Torrey were the only towns in Utah that were Cerified IDA International Dark Sky Communities. Since 2022, Springdale, Utah, Bluff, Utah, Moab, Utah, Castle Valley, Utah, have become dark sky IDA certified communities. At the February 2022 Town Council meeting, I made a substitute motion to delay passing the lighting ordinance amendments to definitions until the town considers a resolution for Virgin to apply for an International Dark Skies Place certification. Unfortunately, the motion died for a lack of a second. But it did start the discussion of Virgin moving to dark skies.
In June of 2024, I drafted a dark sky ordinance for Virgin, and Kent Peterson and I shepard Virgin’s dark sky ordinance through Planning and Zoning Commission and Town Council. Virgin’s Dark Sky Ordinance 2025-07 was approved on April 15, 2025. Council member Mistie Baird and I have committed to proposing a resolution to set aside money which can be used to offer financial incentives to assist residents in updating their non-compliant fixtures. I also proposed a Capital Improvement Project (CIP) to bring the Town’s non-compliant fixtures into compliance.
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