ORANGE : Resident Urges Lighting Regulation

It takes more than the setting sun for darkness to fall on George Calaphat’s back yard.

Thanks to a neighbor’s patio lights that beam onto his property, portions of Calaphat’s house remain “as bright as a Christmas tree” well into the night, he said.

Calaphat tried persuading his neighbor to move the lights. When that failed, he called the police.

Last week, he went before the City Council, asking members to create an ordinance that would regulate outdoor lighting in residential areas. Council members supported the idea and directed city staffers to look into it.

“These lights affect my property,” Calaphat told the council. “They are an infringement on my privacy.”

Calaphat’s position was bolstered when he showed the council several pictures of his back yard. The pictures were taken at night, but the neighbor’s lights shined so brightly that the photos looked as if they were shot at noon.

“People are entitled to peace in their homes,” said council member Fred L. Barrera after viewing the photos.

City officials still must work out the details of a lighting ordinance. It might be modeled after one in Yorba Linda, which restricts high-powered outdoor lights that create a nuisance for neighbors.

Orange already has an ordinance that regulates lighting in industrial areas.

Council member Mike Spurgeon said the ordinance should not outlaw low-powered outdoor lights that are used for security purposes.

Spurgeon said the ordinance should be enforced by city code officials and not by police, who should be left to handle major crimes.