“83% of households say they do not want pole lights

“In a survey of homeowner households in the 400 & 500 blocks of Race Ave. and the 900 block of Buchanan Ave., 83% said that do not want F&M’s boulevard pole lights across the street from their properties! Of the 29 households whose properties are directly across from Buchanan Park, 24 households voted against the pole lights and only 3 voted for them. The remaining two were undecided.

Reasons these homeowners gave for not wanting F&M’s pole lights include:

“People who bought their houses across from Buchanan Park want the Park to look like a park. They expect to see a natural landscape, unspoiled by string of pole lights.

“Property values will go down, according to a local realtor. Pole lights will give the Park a commercial feel, detracting from the aesthetics of the Park.

“The Park will lose some its beauty with a row of closely-spaced pole lights on its border. The Park will look less like a park and more like the College campus.

“F&M’s pole lights give off a bright white light that is intrusive. Overhead street lights radiate an indirect light that is a more diffused and softer light.

“Boulevard pole lights shine directly into living room and bedroom windows. The light from street lights doesn’t do that because the light comes from above.

“Homeowners did not ask for the pole lights and the College did not ask if they wanted them. F&M could put its money to better effect by using it to increase police presence.

“Race Ave., 400 & 500 blocks, total 14 households:

12 households against pole lights Against (86%)

1 household for pole lights For (7%)

1 undecided Undecided (7%)

“Buchanan Ave., 900 block, total 15 households:

12 households against pole lights Against (80%)

2 households for pole lights For (13%)

1 undecided Undecided (7%)

“These are all owner-occupied houses in one of Lancaster City’s most desirable and established neighborhoods. Of the 29 households, six have been occupied by the same owner for 20 years or more; five have been occupied by the same owner for 50 years or more. These are the homeowners who will be directly affected by F&M ‘s plan to place a string of pole lights directly across the street from their homes. They have been paying city property and school taxes for many years. They deserve to have their opinions taken with utmost seriousness by F&M College, the Mayor, City Council and Public Works.

“Most homeowners in the 400 & 500 blocks of Race Ave. and the 900 block of Buchanan Ave. feel that the existing street lighting is sufficient. However, if the city wants more lighting for security purposes, this can be done by putting up more poles or by adding lights to existing poles that do not already have lights, which is done by PP&L at no expense to the City. “