The Real Estate Board of New York to The New York City Council Committee on Housing and Buildings on Intro 804 Regarding Light Pollution

The Real Estate Board of New York to The New York City Council Committee on Housing and Buildings on Intro 804 Regarding Light Pollution

The Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY) is the City’s leading real estate trade association representing
commercial, residential, and institutional property owners, builders, managers, investors, brokers,
salespeople, and other organizations and individuals active in New York City real estate. REBNY appreciates
this opportunity to submit comments to the Committee on Environmental Protection and Waterfronts on
Intro 804, in relation to light pollution from light fixtures in a residential district.

The proposed legislation, sponsored by Councilmembers Wong and Louis, would require privately-owned light
fixtures causing illumination greater than 3000 lumens in a residential district to be fully shielded to reduce
light pollution. It is our understanding that the intent of the bill is to protect sleeping quarters in low-density
residential districts with one to three family homes. However, the bill language today would capture
residential buildings in mixed-use districts and those in medium to high density residential districts, where
lighting requirements are necessary as a matter of public safety, zoning, and code.

Given our understanding that the bill is intended for districts with one- to three-family dwellings, the bill
should be amended to clearly limit the definition of residential districts to low density residential districts with
one to three family homes to align with the goal and purpose as put forward by the sponsors.
Thank you again for accepting REBNY’s testimony on this matter.

CONTACT:
Dev Awasthi
Vice President of New York City Legislative Affairs
Real Estate Board of New York
dawasthi@rebny.com

Daniel Avery
Director of Policy
Real Estate Board of New York
davery@rebny.com