By Dawn De Busk

Staff Writer

CASCO — LED streetlights might be illuminating to some people. Yet, for other citizens, the bulbs are a blinding nuisance.

One Casco resident, who brought her concerns to Central Maine Power (CMP) as well as to the town, explained why she was frustrated with the new lighting.

Meanwhile, a selectman praised the town’s move toward more modern light bulbs to light up the roadways.

No matter the opinion: The LED lights are going up.

“All streetlights in town are going to be transitioned to LED. It’s just going in incremental stages,” according to Casco Town Manager Anthony “Tony” Ward.

Last week, Casco resident Ilene Tidd spoke during public participation time at the Casco Board of Selectmen’s meeting.

“I previously reached out by e-mail to the select board and the town manager, regarding an LED light pole that is negatively impacting our property,” she began.

She added that she has contacted CMP to take steps to mitigate the issue. 

“I would like to make some general comments regarding the LED retrofit of streetlights in our town. I understand the town’s reasoning for an LED update. The pros being they are energy efficient. They reduce the cost of maintenance over time,” Tidd said.

Then, she expressed the drawbacks of the LED lighting. 

“They are much brighter than the amber colored sodium sulphate lights they replaced. If the LED lights aren’t properly installed, they can cause more light pollution. They are harsh on the eyes,” she said. 

Many people have noticed this when driving at night and looking at the LED headlights of oncoming vehicle, she said.

She read from the Lighting Ordinance found under zoning standards. Part of the ordinance described where streetlights would be located.

“Lights along property lines will be visible to residents, but should be appropriately shielded,” she read. 

“It is my understanding that the town leases the utility poles from CMP, and has directed their placement locations. Because of this and our existing lighting ordinance we hope that any residents’ concerns about negative impacts or non-conformance would be addressed as they come about,” Tidd concluded. 

Selectman Scott Avery understood her point of view, but advocated for more lighting on poorly lit roads.

“I can see why you are looking at your light,” he said.

“At Pike’s Corner, I am cheering for the LED lights because that intersection is dark. It is supposedly one of the worst intersections in the state. But yet, without Crossroads Store there and [the owner] being so great and keeping spotlights on there, that intersection is black. Unfortunately a couple of the businesses have been burglarized because it is so dark and anyone driving by can’t see anything,” Avery said.

He repeated that he understood Tidd’s viewpoint and had seen the photos she submitted.  

“At the same time, all our intersection are dark. Every single one of them. Cooks Mills and Tenney Hill Road are dark. Route 302 and Tenny Hill are dark. We had to address those concerns,” he said.

More streetlights would be advantageous in the area around Crooked River School, he said. 

“The reasoning for the LED is our town was dark in places it shouldn’t be dark,” Avery said. “Pike’s Corner is still dark, but better than it was.”

At that point in the conversation, Ward explained that the bulb replacement is a project already in the works.

Resident Sam Brown shared his thoughts on the topic. 

“I would like to echo Ilene’s concern about light pollution. It is important to have safety as a concern. But these LED lights — they are loud,” Brown said.

“It’s important move forward in a way that is sensitive to light coming into people’s personal properties,” he said. “As much as possible, let’s compromise, find a middle ground, where we are not lighting up places that we don’t want to light up.”