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AGENDA
Town Hall 551 Hot Springs Blvd Dark Sky Steering Committee Meeting
Pagosa Spring, CO 81147 March 16, 2026 @ 5:00 PM
REMOTE PARTICIPATION
Join Zoom Meeting By Computer - https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88260715384
Dial by Phone - 1-719-359-4580 US - Meeting ID: 882 6071 5384
A Zoom link is made available. The Town cannot guarantee internet service or online broadcasting.
Remote participation is at the risk of attendees. The meeting will continue in person regardless of the
broadcast capability.
I. CALL MEETING TO ORDER
II. ROLL CALL
III. PUBLIC COMMENT
IV. ANNOUNCEMENTS
V. CONSENT AGENDA
VI. NEW BUSINESS
1. Election of Chair and Vice-Chair for 2026
2. Earth Day Celebration
3. International Dark Sky Week Proclamation
4. Discussion of Section 6.11 of the Land Use and Development Code
5. International Dark Sky Place Application Process
VII. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
VIII. REPORTS AND COMMENTS
IX. ADJOURNMENT
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[PAGE 2]
AGENDA BRIEF
MEETING: Dark Sky Steering Committee
FROM: Katelyn Tunnell
PROJECT: Election of Chair and Vice-Chair for 2026
ACTION: D iscussion and Action
PURPOSE/BACKGROUND:
Land Use Development Code Section 2.5.6.A.1 states, "Annually, at the first regular meeting of the year,
each board and commission shall elect, by majority vote, from its membership a Chair and vice-Chair,
with each being eligible for reelection, and each serving a one-year term..."
RECOMMENDATIONS:
1. Move to elect [Committee member name] as the Dark Sky Steering Committee Chair and [Committee
member name] as the Dark Sky Steering Committee Vice-Chair for 2026.
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[PAGE 3]
AGENDA BRIEF
MEETING: Dark Sky Steering Committee
FROM: Katelyn Tunnell
PROJECT: Earth Day Celebration
ACTION: D iscussion
PURPOSE/BACKGROUND:
Discuss staffing and coordination for the Dark Sky booth at the April 19, 2026 Earth Day Celebration
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[PAGE 4]
AGENDA BRIEF
MEETING: Dark Sky Steering Committee
FROM: Owen O'Dell
PROJECT: International Dark Sky Week Proclamation
ACTION: D iscussion and Action
PURPOSE/BACKGROUND:
A local property owner, and dark sky advocate, has brought forward the proclamation for the Town of
Pagosa Springs to support International Dark Sky Week, April 13th – 20th. The Town of Pagosa Springs
celebrated this week last year. With the newly formed Dark Sky Steering Committee’s objective of Dark
Sky Place Certification, the recognition of this week will show the committee’s dedication to the
initiative.
Recommendations:
1. The Dark Sky Steering Committee recommends that Town Council proclaim April 13-20, 2026, as
International Dark Sky Week.
Alternate Motions:
1. The Dark Sky Steering Committee recommends that Town Council proclaim April 13-20, 2026, as
International Dark Sky Week, with amendments.
2. The Dark Sky Steering Committee denies the proclamation with direction to Staff.
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A Proclamation by the
Town Council
of the Town of Pagosa Springs
PROCLAMATION IN SUPPORT OF INTERNATIONAL DARK SKY WEEK
APRIL 13th – 20th, 2026
WHEREAS, the Town of Pagosa Springs is located adjacent to the San Juan National Forest, the Weminuche Wilderness, and the
South San Juan Wilderness, where we regularly enjoy dark skies; and
WHEREAS, the Town of Pagosa is in close proximity to Chimney Rock National Monument, a newly certified Dark Sky Park within
Archuleta County; and
WHEREAS, our local dark skies encourage people to experience stargazing with and without telescopes or binoculars; and
WHEREAS, these experiences can lead to further interest in astronomy, astrophysics, even mathematics, and just the pleasure
of experiencing the natural world; and
WHEREAS, Colorado is home to many nocturnal wildlife species which require the natural cycle of night and day to migrate,
hunt for food, procreate, pollinate, and mate; and
WHEREAS, the Town of Pagosa Springs Planning Department is working to minimize light pollution; its effects on human health
and wellness, harm to wildlife, harm to our ecosystem, energy waste, crime and safety, and our heritage of dark night skies; and
WHEREAS, the Town of Pagosa Springs has formalized a Dark Sky Steering Committee with the objective of obtaining Dark Sky
Place Certification; and
WHEREAS, Dark Sky International, the globally recognized authority on light pollution, recognizes Dark Sky Week as an
opportunity to raise awareness of the effects of light pollution, to provide education, resources, and solutions for the public; to
encourage responsible outdoor lighting in our neighborhoods, to encourage the protection of dark skies as well as the
enjoyment of our night skies, and
WHEREAS, following the Five Principles of Responsible Outdoor Lighting include useful, targeted, low-level, controlled, and
warm colored lighting to maintain our unique rural character and improve the quality of life for all citizens and visitors.
NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved, that we, the Town Council of Pagosa Springs, Colorado, do hereby proclaim April 13-20,
2026, to be International Dark Sky Week. We ask that each resident and visitor to the Town of Pagosa Springs join us in
observing and enjoying Dark Sky Week 2026. We also ask that everyone help raise awareness of light pollution and support
our precious resource of dark skies. We ask and encourage all residents and visitors to learn about the benefits of dark skies in
our community, and to celebrate everything dark skies represent.
GIVEN under my hand and seal this ____ day of April 2026.
Attest: Signed:
_________________________ ______________________________
April Hessman, Town Clerk Shari Pierce, Mayor
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[PAGE 6]
AGENDA BRIEF
MEETING: Dark Sky Steering Committee
FROM: Katelyn Tunnell
PROJECT: Discussion of Section 6.11 of the Land Use and Development Code
ACTION: D iscussion
PURPOSE/BACKGROUND:
The general purpose of this section 6.11 is to require outdoor lighting that is adequate for safety and
convenience; in scale with the activity to be illuminated and its surroundings; directed to the surface or
activity to be illuminated; and designed to clearly render people and objects and contribute to a
pleasant night environment. Section 6.11 of the Town of Pagosa Springs Land Use and Development
Code (LUDC) establishes the Town’s standards for exterior lighting associated with development and
redevelopment.
As the Town explores pursuing designation as an International Dark Sky Community, it is important to
review the existing exterior lighting standards to understand how they are currently applied and
enforced and whether they align with Dark Sky best practices. This discussion will allow the Dark Sky
Steering Committee to review LUDC Section 6.11, identify any gaps between the current regulations and
Dark Sky certification requirements, and discuss potential updates that may support the Town’s efforts
toward certification.
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6.11. EXTERIOR LIGHTING
6.11.1. PURPOSE
The general purpose of this Section is to require outdoor lighting that is adequate for safety and
convenience; in scale with the activity to be illuminated and its surroundings; directed to the surface or
activity to be illuminated; and designed to clearly render people and objects and contribute to a pleasant
night environment.
6.11.2. APPLICABILITY
A. General. All exterior lighting for any type of residential or nonresidential development shall comply
with the standards of this Section, unless exempted in subsection D. below.
B. Existing lighting. All lighting existing prior to the adoption of this Section shall be brought into
compliance with this Section upon reconstruction or remodeling of more than a cumulative fifty (50)
percent of floor area of such building or facility.
C. Lighting plan requirement. The submission of an exterior lighting plan is required prior to the approval
of any subdivision or planned unit development, or site plan, or the issuance of a building permit, to
promote a standard of illumination that is unified in design, color, intensity, and fixtures. The plan shall
describe such things as the light source, level of illumination, hours of illumination, the orientation, and
the effects the illumination has on adjoining properties and roadways.
D. Exempt lighting. The following types of lighting are exempt from the requirements of this Section.
1. Soffit or wall-mounted luminaires that are permanently attached to single-family residential
dwellings, not to exceed the height of the eave.
2. Public street and right-of-way lighting.
3. Temporary decorative seasonal lighting provided that individual lamps have a light output of two
hundred (200) lumens or less.
4. Temporary lighting for emergency or nighttime work and construction.
5. Temporary lighting for theatrical, television, and performance areas, or for special events
authorized by the Town.
6. Lighting required and regulated by the Federal Aviation Administration.
7. Lighting for outdoor recreational uses such as ball diamonds, playing fields, tennis courts, and
similar uses, provided that such uses comply with the following standards:
a. Maximum permitted light post height: Eighty (80) feet.
b. Maximum permitted illumination at the property line: Two (2) footcandles.
c. Limits on hours of illumination: Exterior lighting shall be extinguished no later than 11:00
p.m. An exception may be granted by the Town Council at their discretion.
6.11.3. GENERAL REVIEW STANDARD
If installed, all exterior lighting shall meet the functional security needs of the proposed land use without
adversely affecting adjacent properties or the community. For purposes of this Section, properties that
comply with the design standards of Section 6.11.4 shall be deemed to not adversely affect adjacent
properties or the community.
6.11.4. DESIGN STANDARDS
Created: 2026-03-06 08:17:11 [EST]
(Supp. No. 16)
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Exterior lighting is not required except for purposes of public safety. However, if installed, all exterior lighting
shall meet the following design standards:
A. All light sources shall be concealed or shielded with luminaries with cut-offs with an angle not
exceeding ninety (90) degrees to minimize the potential for glare and unnecessary diffusion on
adjacent property. For purposes of this provision, "cutoff angle" is defined as the angle formed by a
line drawn from the direction of light rays at the light source and a line perpendicular to the ground
from the light source above from which no light is emitted.
B. Parking lots and other background spaces shall be illuminated as unobtrusively as possible while
meeting the functional needs of safe circulation and protection of people and property. Foreground
spaces, such as building entrances and outside seating areas, shall utilize local lighting that defines the
space without glare.
C. In no case shall exterior lighting add any footcandle illumination at any point off-site.
D. All outdoor light not necessary for security purposes shall be reduced, activated by motion sensor
detectors, or turned off during non-operating hours.
E. Light fixtures used to illuminate flags, statues, or any other objects mounted on a pole, pedestal, or
platform shall use a narrow cone beam of light that will not extend beyond the illuminated object.
F. For upward-directed architectural, landscape, and decorative lighting, direct light emissions shall not
be visible above the building roof line.
G. No flickering or flashing lights shall be permitted.
H. Street lighting and associated underground street lighting supply circuits shall be installed. The spacing
shall be determined by a lighting professional for local streets.
I. Arterial streets and commercial areas may have a higher level of lighting if determined by the Town
Council to be appropriate.
J. Any light used for illumination of signs, parking and security area, or for any purpose other than street
lighting shall be arranged to direct and confine all light beams to the subject property and away from
nearby properties and the vision of passing motorists.
K. Internally illuminated signs are discouraged.
L. Visible light sources will be permitted with motion detecting devices so long as such lights, once
activated, remain lit for no more than five (5) minutes before deactivating.
Created: 2026-03-06 08:17:11 [EST]
(Supp. No. 16)
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[PAGE 9]
AGENDA BRIEF
MEETING: Dark Sky Steering Committee
FROM: Owen O'Dell
PROJECT: International Dark Sky Place Application Process
ACTION:
PURPOSE/BACKGROUND:
Staff aims to provide a clear understanding of the application process requirements and timeliness. This
will allow the Town of Pagosa Springs' Dark Sky Steering Committee to digest and determine the next
steps in this endeavor.
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INTERNATIONAL DARK SKY PLACE (IDSP)
APPLICATION PROCESS
PHASE III: CERTIFICATION
PHASE II: FORMAL APPLICATION Applicant waits while review is in process
PHASE I: INITIAL INQUIRY With support from IDA staff, applicant
Average Timeline: 90-150 days
actively works to meet the application
Applicant reviews eligibility with IDA
requirements.
staff; notifies IDA of intent to pursue
IDSP application
Average Timeline: 1-3 years
Average Timeline: 45 days*
STEP 1: Application is reviewed by
DSPC. One of the following
outcomes occur:
STEP 1: The applicant works closely
>Application is approved by DSPC -
with IDSP Manager to develop
STEP 1: The applicant reviews
application is submitted for
application in accordance with
certification process; indicates
approval by IDA Board of Directors
appropriate guidelines
interest in the program
>Application is approved by DSPC
>Anytime, ongoing; Via email with
>Anytime; via darksky.org
with conditions - application is
IDSP staff/manager
revised, applicant may resubmit
STEP 2: The applicant receives an
anytime for re-review by DSPC
STEP 2: With IDSP Manager
assessment of site eligibility and
>Application is rejected - updated
approval, the applicant submits an
IDSP category recommendation
application may be eligible for
application for Dark Sky Places
from IDA staff
submission at future deadline
Committee (DSPC) review
>Within 30 days of initial inquiry
>On or before submission deadline
submission; Via communication
STEP 2: DSPC submits
for review at the following
with IDSP staff
recommendations to IDA Board for
committee meeting; Via submission
final approval
to IDSP Program Manager
STEP 3: After eligibility is
>Board approves or returns the
determined by IDA staff, the
application 10 business days after
applicant notifies IDA of intent to
DSPC approval
pursue formal Dark Sky Place
certification
STEP 3: New IDSP is certified upon
>Timeline varies based on eligibility
Board Approval
and guideline requirements;
>Announcement is coordinated
Applicant confirms intent with IDSP
with IDA staff at the applicant’s
staff via written communication
discretion
*Phase I timeline varies depending on eligibility status and complexity of proposed place
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