Will Campton Hills voters see stars? Issue on April 7 ballot

Campton Hills voters might want to spend a few nights stargazing before they hit the polls April 7.

On the local ballot this spring is a nonbinding referendum that officials hope will gauge public interest in a "dark sky" ordinance aimed at preserving the community's natural, nighttime environment.

"It would be nice if we could see the stars at night," Village Trustee Jim Kopec said. "We have the opportunity here to take control and bring it back the way it was."

Officials say they're looking for direction from voters on whether to regulate the style, intensity and placement of outdoor lighting. The idea is to weed out and prevent lights that disrupt the night view.

Kopec said such an ordinance might encourage businesses and homeowners to use downlighting instead of uplighting. Existing lights along roads and in subdivisions could be upgraded as they wear out, he said.

"It would be a slow shift, probably 10 years or so," Kopec said.

According to the nonprofit International Dark-Sky Association, which formed in 1988, light pollution such as sky glow and sky glare affects not only the view but also the ecological balance.

In late 2006, the village of Homer Glen in Will County became one of the first communities in the area to adopt a law protective of the night sky.

Paula Wallrich, Homer Glen's village manager, said Monday the ordinance already has saved the village money and resources, and also made a noticeable difference in some areas.

Wallrich said Homer Glen considers the night view a natural resource worth preserving.

"It's going to take cooperation from a lot of different businesses and different communities before we can really see it," she said. "But you've got to start somewhere."