Homeowner says he lives next door to ‘sports complex’

CLAYTON — A homeowner says he can't enjoy his backyard because of a neighbor's floodlights.

"I'm stuck living next to a sports complex, and that's not an exaggeration," Kevin Ravens of Bend Court told the Town Council earlier this month. "There are probably 20 to 30 floodlights in my neighbor's house right next to me."

That makes it impossible to enjoy the outdoors at his home, Ravens said. "I can't sit on my back porch in the evening without being blinded," he said. "My shed in my backyard, which is about 80 to 85 feet from their property line, is completely lit up at night."

Ravens said he had reached out to his neighbor numerous times to no avail. "I've actually gotten law enforcement involved numerous times as well," he said.

But police can do nothing because Clayton has no law regulating light pollution, said Ravens, who called on the council to adopt such an ordinance. "The City of Raleigh implemented one years ago," he noted.

And Clayton governs other forms of pollution, Ravens added. "The town already has noise pollution ordinances," he said. "Recently, they've been working on commercial light issues as well. But I haven't heard anything about residential light pollution."

Ravens acknowledged that homes needed exterior lighting for security. "But there should also be a limitation on that," he said, adding that other Clayton residents likely agreed. "I'm sure I'm not the only person who has run into this issue."

In fast-growing Clayton, more homes are going up next to each other, Ravens said. "And I do think a residential light ordinance will help," he said.

A sympathetic council said Ravens' timing was good because the town was updating its unified development ordinance.

"We're actually asking the consultant to look at some characteristics of 'dark skies' communities so now's a good time to obviously have those discussions," Councilman Porter Casey said.

"You did bring up some very good points," added Councilman Michael Sims.

Mayor Jody McLeod asked Ravens to share his address with the town manager or clerk so staff could take a look at his situation. "It would be educational for everybody," he said.