I attended Supervisor Katie Rice’s virtual meeting regarding the lighting along Sir Francis Drake Boulevard. Many of the participants expressed their displeasure with the intensity of the new overhead lights along the median. Rice agreed they are too much, and the overall lighting plan should be changed. The county will be engaging a new lighting consultant.
Regardless of the consultant’s recommendations, I urge her to listen to the voices of the local residents and the Community Advisory Committee with regard to the character of the lighting. Highway caliber lights with the power to illuminate a major freeway not only have a negative impact on the overall aesthetics of the Drake corridor, but also a detrimental effect on individual property values. The owners’ views of Mount Tamalpais, their overall natural surroundings and quality of living are negatively impacted, as well.
Increased safety is a noteworthy endeavor, yet the voices of the residents should be taken into account as part of any future redesign. Rice is in a position to make this happen and should recognize the concerns of the local residents before approving any changes.