This letter was submitted on behalf of Green Maynard

Recent background on MA Dark Sky Protections

For the past year, Green Maynard has been working on a Lighting Bylaw which we hope to present at the Spring Annual Town Meeting (ATM). We have been working with experts from MA Dark Skies which is part of the International Dark Sky community. We will be proposing a bylaw recommended by MA Dark Skies and similar to other cities and towns in MA.  Some towns such as Acton, Concord, and Boxborough have some form of Lighting Bylaw. Other towns, such as Becket, Gloucester, Nantucket, Northampton, and Pelham have fully implemented the MA Dark Sky recommendations. Other towns such as Chelmsford have proposals similar to Maynard which they are preparing for upcoming town meetings. There are also 2 statewide law proposals currently in committee.

Why Have a Lighting Bylaw?

Enjoyment of the night sky

Anyone who wanted to see the Northern Lights earlier this year knows how difficult it is to find dark skies in Maynard. Likewise, if you have been in a darker environment, you have probably noticed how much more of the night sky is visible without the lights. If you were around in 2003, you might remember the spectacular night sky. The picture below shows the sky during the 2003 blackout and the same location today.

Environmental Consequences

One thing we don’t often think of is the effect of light pollution on wildlife. The reduced population of fireflies has been attributed to light pollution. Gardens have 62% fewer visits by nocturnal pollinators in the presence of artificial light. Some estimates suggest that one third of insects attracted to stationary artificial light sources die before morning either through exhaustion or predation. 80% of migrating birds do so at night and many or most use stars to navigate. Artificial light contributes to an estimated 600 million bird deaths annually from building collisions in the US alone.

Human Consequences

For humans, artificial light interferes with melatonin levels causing sleep disorders. There is some research suggesting that breast cancer growth rates are proportional to exposure to light intensity.

Visual Impairment (glare, trespass)

We can all relate to the glare from the lights of an oncoming car. Likewise, stationary lights create glare which actually make it more difficult to see. The two photos below are a good example. In the 1^st photo, you can see an open gate at the far end of the building, but not much else. In the 2nd photo, with the glare removed, you can clearly see a person standing on the other side of the opening.

To preserve the scenic and aesthetic qualities of the town

One of the aspects of Maynard we all enjoy is the welcoming community vibe. Appropriate lighting can contribute to this welcoming vibe. The photos below, taken by Michael Ford of Maynard, demonstrate this. Would you rather have lighting like the Assabet Coop Market and the Firehouse,

or like the glare in the parking lot behind Town Hall and the Police station?

What Can I do?

If you are interested in reducing light pollution on your property, there are several things you can do. 

• Turn lights off when not needed
• Shield external lights (see COOP photo)
• Use dimmable bulbs
• Use “warm light” bulbs (2200K or less – marked on packaging)
• Use low-output bulbs (600 lumens or less – marked on packaging)
• Install timers and/or motion detectors

 Lighting Fundamentals

There are five principles for governing lighting 

How Can I Learn More?

There are several upcoming events: 

• The Skylight Astronomical Society has invited the public to a Star Watch at the Minute Man Airfield on Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025 starting at 6:00PM.
• The public is invited to the annual MA Dark Sky meeting which will be held in the Maynard Firehouse from 1pm to 4PM on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025

The following have have plenty of useful information on their websites.

MA Dark Sky

International Dark Sky

Look for events in and around Maynard during International Dark Sky during the week of April 13-20, 2026.