Street Lights, Light Pollution, Manhattan Beach, Undergrounding

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The current plans being developed for undergrounding provides a unique opportunity to make significant changes to our neighborhoods appearance through street lighting considerations. Currently, Manhattan Beach's streets are predominately illuminated by a "COBRA" style with a drop-down globe street light fixture. The COBRA style lights were developed in the 1960's and are very industrial in appearance, produce a relative high level of LIGHT TRESPASS, and offer little sense of neighborhood.

Replacement poles and lights during the undergrounding will be the cookie-cutter COBRA lights. Conversations with Scott Gobble at SCE indicate that an allowance, equivalent to the cost of the COBRA lights, could be allocated towards more decorative street lights. Mr. Gobble also said, "If residents are interested in upgrading the style or quality of light fixtures, then during the underground process would be the most cost effective time to do so. The difference in costs probably wouldn't add very much to the overall undergrounding assessment."

The Gas Lamp area in the Manhattan Beach Sand Section is well known among residents for the warm, comfortable light and sense of neighborhood. The current efforts to underground the utilities presents a very opportune time to consider the expansion and enhancement of our Manhattan Beach neighborhoods. Do our neighborhoods really need the industrial COBRA style lights? Why should Manhattan Beach residents be subjected to light intrusion into their homes? Why should nighttime celestial and ocean views be destroyed by light pollution that is unnecessary? Do we really need our residential street lights to loom 30' high in all neighborhoods? Do we really need to be lighting all of the roof tops?

Maybe streets like Ocean Drive should only have lights at a level so as the typical three story home resident isn't at eye level with the street light fixture from their living room? Tall poles might be fine on wide streets like Manhattan Avenue, but we should really evaluate what Edison is currently planning on installing as replacement fixtures and luminares during the undergrounding.

There are options. There are better options. We have an opportunity to make a difference in how our city and our neighborhoods look and feel. Our input and decisions will impact the way our community looks for the next 50-100 years. Do we want the current COBRA style lights? Or, do we want street lights that are going to be less intrusive and more aesthetically pleasing? Your voice needs to be heard! Please just take a quick second and email our city leaders.

Light Pollution - Great information on understanding why our current street lights are not the best option for Manhattan Beach neighborhoods. The current COBRA style street light has a drop-down globe that sends about 30% of the light into the atmosphere which destroys nighttime celestial & ocean views. The COBRA w/drop-down globe also produce significant glare to pedestrians & motorists. More Information...

This decorative luminaire and arm has been reviewed by several local residents in Manhattan Beach and it is preferred over the COBRA style light. The general conversation has been considering a pole & fixture (like the one pictured) on wider residential streets where the COBRA style fixture is located. On smaller more narrow streets, maybe a shorter pole (determine a height that would position the fixture between the 2nd & 3rd story levels or below 2nd story windows) with the same style of luminaire supported by a shorter support arm (see modified image below).

A decorative street light fixture would increase the "daytime" value of our neighborhoods. Other benefits include reduced nighttime street light glare, light pollution which destroys our view of celestial stars, and light trespass & intrusion into private residences. The cost difference is very minor when done at the time when the utilities are undergrounded. Let's not get stuck with a "Vanilla" street light when we could have so much more for just a little effort.

In the near future we will be posting street light options and additional considerations. Please check back or you can always contact Dan Byers for more information. Dan also has several of the lighting catalogs available for review.

Street Lights…who would have thought there was so much to learn. Here’s some websites that can help explain some important considerations when considering street lights:

http://www.ci.la.ca.us/BSL/prop218.htm

http://icole.home.att.net/rdwy_lite_graphix.html

http://dynamics.org/Altenberg/PROJECTS/STARRY_NIGHTS/LeeRetrofitReport.html

http://www.pha.jhu.edu/~atolea/second/page1.html

http://cowan.bendnet.com/darksky/StreetLight.htm

Here’s some information on types & styles of lights from several manufacturers:

http://www.holophane.com/Product/info.htm

http://www.lumec.com/products/area.html

http://www.hanoverlantern.com/comm_indx.htm

http://www.sentrylighting.com

Here’s some information on types & styles of Poles:

http://www.millerberndmfg.com

http://www.hapco.com/?BISKIT=8865646&CONTEXT=cat&cat=2

The cost of the light installation and operation is usually included in a monthly fee ranging between $6 to $15 or more depending on the type of light. The cost of the lights ranges from about $6 a month for the overhead lights to a minimum of $15 a month for the post-top lights.

Excerpt from the City of Manhattan Beach Website:

The street light by my home is out. How do I have it repaired?

Most street lights within the City belong to Southern California Edison (SCE). Street light outages and lights in need of repair may be reported to the Public Works Department at 310-802-5313 or to SCE directly at 800-655-4555. Please have the following information ready so we may complete your request:

Location of the light:
- The street name and address
- or the cross street names and the hundred block numbers;
- the identification number off of the pole itself, if possible.
Color of light bulb: White or amber.
Type of Problem: The condition of the light flickering, completely out, etc.

Once your request is complete, the Public Works representative will fax your request to SCE. Most repairs are made within 1 to 3 business days.

SCE Undergrounding Link

http://www.sce.com/sc3/001_cust_care/001m_Undergrounding.htm

http://www.sce.com/sc3/004_sce_comm/001m_Undergrounding.htm

Rosecrans Underground District Feb. 2002???

http://www.ci.manhattan-beach.ca.us/agenda/2002/Ag-Min20020219/20020219-14.pdf

http://www.ci.manhattan-beach.ca.us/agenda/1998/Ag-Min19980804/19980804-17.html