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The glowing nighttime skies over eastern Essex County can be seen from as far away as Michigan and Ohio and prompted recent news coverage from Detroit media. A local member of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada called the light pollution “outrageous” and a threat to the dark sky preserve at Point Pelee National Park.
Earlier this month, Leamington town council, following Kingsville’s lead, passed a Greenhouse Light Amendment Bylaw that requires, among other things, that greenhouse operators keep their sidewalls and end walls completely covered with curtains from one hour before sunset to one hour after sunrise. There are also requirements for greenhouse ceiling curtains to be closed at certain times.
In Leamington, the sidewalls and end walls must be installed and operational by April 1. Enforcement of the ceiling curtain requirements begins Oct. 1.
“We are trying to fix this because our residents are livid,” Leamington Mayor Hilda MacDonald said during her council’s Dec. 8 debate. “Our residents’ quality of life is affected.”
At the industry’s prompting, Leamington council had earlier delayed a decision on the matter to get more feedback from growers and citizens. Most of the 1,300 residents who responded urged 100 per cent closure on greenhouse walls and ceilings during the night.
“We are trying to achieve a workable solution for all,” OGVG general manager Joseph Sbrocchi told council prior to its vote.
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