The Town of Qualicum Beach intends to soften a yet to be determined number of LED street lights this year. (File Photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Ian Holmes

night light

Qualicum Beach mayor hopes first batch of “problematic” street lights will be dimmed soon

Mar 27, 2023 | 5:27 AM

QUALICUM BEACH — While conceding it won’t be a perfect process, Qualicum Beach’s mayor is adamant dialing down the strength of numerous street lights is the right way to go.

Councillors voted last month 4-1 in favour of reducing the intensity of “problematic” LED lights attached to BC Hydro-leased street poles on a complaint basis on non-arterial roads following longstanding pressure from a vocal minority.

The motion called for lights to be dimmed from 75 to 39 watts on local streets and subdivisions based on complaints received during two intake dates, with the second one expiring at the end of August.

Mayor Teunis Westbroek said requests to dim roughly 70 lights were made during the first intake period which lapsed at the end of February.

He’s hopeful those lights will be softened prior to the second intake period expiring.

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“I think this will improve the quality of life not only for the people who are complaining about these lights, but also for the concern that we have for wildlife,’ Westbroek said, in reference to concerned citizens reporting LED street lighting is displacing a range of bird species.

Adjusting LED lights attached to wooden hydro poles went against a Town staff recommendation, which was made after an illumination engineer produced a report for the municipality in 2021.

A key aspect of the report stated brighter 75 wattage lights were required in Qualicum Beach to meet industry-accepted safety standards due to the wider spacing between hydro poles in the community.

Despite the expert advice, mayor Westbroek doesn’t believe softer LED lighting will lead to compromised safety, stating 39 watt lights are comparable to the historic PCB lights being phased out.

“I’m comfortable that when we change the lights that people have asked us to change that people that people will be presently surprised that it didn’t make all that much difference as far as walking, or riding their bikes at night or driving.”

Another benefit, Westbroek said, is energy savings by adjusting the strength of LED street lighting.

Early in 2021, BC Hydro replaced 550 weaker orange-glowing HPS (high pressure sodium) lights attached to BC Hydro poles in Qualicum Beach, representing about half of the lamp standards in the community.

The other half of Town-controlled street lights involve a mix of old lights and modernized LED lights.

Westbroek said it’s not exactly clear at this stage which lights will be dimmed.

“It is a complaint based and we’re looking at being reasonable about how we’re going to go about it. If people are happy with the lights and I know some homes are further away from the road, they have bigger properties and they’re not concerned about it, we’re not going to change those lights,” the mayor said.

An early February council meeting heard from nearly 20 people, most of whom were passionately opposed to the LED street lights, citing the invasion of stadium-style lighting adversely impacting their lives, including reduced sleep.

Speakers reported a loss of enjoyment of their homes and yards from “invasive” LED street lights.

Only coun. Scott Harrison was opposed to the direction of his council colleagues.

Harrison highlighted the importance of not proceeding without legal advice regarding the safety ramifications of their actions.

His motion was swiftly rejected.

John Wood, 76, lives on a small dead-end residential street near Eaglecrest Golf Club in Qualicum Beach.

He strongly supports the transition to LED street lighting, which are in place on the periphery of his subdivision.

His primary concern with ever-weakening archaic PCB bulbs is the safety risk for all road users, particularly in the context of Qualicum Beach’s elderly population.

“It’s just a fact of life when you’re aging that you don’t see as well at night and the other thing is that the pedestrians out there walking they’re maybe not moving as quickly or being as visible as they could.”

Wood said in this case a community-wide survey would have been a good idea to more accurately gauge how people feel about the switch to LED street lighting on the BC Hydro-leased poles.

“The vocal minority here swings a lot of weight,’ Wood said.

Blair Burrough lives in downtown Qualicum Beach where councillors agreed not to soften the LED street lights.

He appreciates the enhanced safety during evening walks in the downtown area and side streets.

Burrough pulls down the blinds in impacted rooms of his home when necessary.

“It usually works out the people that talk the loudest get heard, on the other hand I guess there’s a certain responsibility that if you’re satisfied with the lights make sure you tell the Town,’ Burrough said.

BC Hydro community relations manager Ted Olynyk said their federal mandate to install LED street lights on their poles in the province by the end of 2025 has been well received in most communities.

The Crown corporation works closely with local governments to address concerns, he said.

“We are providing the service to the community, the local government is the customers and they have to adhere to whatever safety policy they have for their community to ensure the areas are lit properly,” Olynyk said.

He noted they do have limitations on the types of lights they can install in order to provide a more efficient, cost-effective service.

Olynyk confirmed the number of complaints in Qualicum Beach regarding switching to modern LED street lights has been among the most per capita in the province.

Costs associated with having BC Hydro staff reduce wattage of LED lights in Qualicum Beach will be solely absorbed by local taxpayers.

The Town earlier estimated replacing about 50 lights would cost more than $90,000.

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ian@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes