While the amendment to the dark sky ordinance is part of the overall approval process for the temple, much has changed in Wasatch County since the ordinance was first adopted in 2003 and amended in 2013 and 2014. The county’s population has grown dramatically in that time and significant advances in technology have been made in outdoor lighting options. 

The Church has worked cooperatively with Wasatch County staff and leadership to research and study best practices of other similar jurisdictions and the recommendations of professional advisory organizations (including the International Dark-Sky Association www.darksky.org to develop comprehensive outdoor lighting regulations appropriate for current and future development in Wasatch County. 

The Church was asked to be the applicant, even though the lighting issues being addressed in the proposed amendment are much broader than those that pertain to the proposed temple. 

Wasatch County staff and leadership have retained their own lighting expert, independent of the Church, to ensure a fair and balanced discussion and that proposed amendments will increase Wasatch County’s ability to manage and maintain a dark nighttime environment. 

To help support the Church’s position on the lighting ordinance, the following key points should be considered in any written or verbal comments you provide to the county. 

• This amendment will better protect the citizens by regulating lighting in all areas of Wasatch County, as it will be more specific and restrictive.
• Aside from pointing exterior lights down, the current outdoor lighting ordinance does nothing to control the amount of outdoor light. The proposed amendments control the total quantity of outdoor light for non-residential projects.
• These proposed amendments drastically increase the planning staff’s ability to regulate and strengthen Wasatch County’s status as a dark sky community in the future. 

Please note that each person who speaks during the public hearing will be limited to three minutes. Email comments can be submitted to: PlanningCommission@wasatch.utah.gov and Council@wasatch.utah.gov no later than Wednesday, March 29th, at 5:00 p.m. 

We encourage all to ensure their opinions on the dark sky ordinance are heard, by exercising their right to be part of the public process through email, attending in person, or both so that your input is not overlooked in this discussion.