Residents press Timnath to curb streetlight glare and improve Parkway crossings

Residents urged Timnath Town Council on Tuesday to revise the town’s streetlight standards, remove sag lenses from existing fixtures and make pedestrian crossings on Timnath Parkway safer after describing light glare into homes and repeated failures by drivers to stop at crosswalks.

John Garvey told council the town has “a bug problem” with its streetlights, using the lighting-industry term for backlight, uplight and glare. Garvey said many neighborhood fixtures cast light into bedroom windows and living rooms and argued that poor lighting design is harming sleep, contributing to light pollution and reducing visibility on roads. As the town updates its street-lighting ordinance, he said, it should “eliminate uplights,” begin exploring different luminaires and, as an interim step, remove sag lenses from current fixtures. He said removing those lenses would cut the uplight rating from “U3 down to 0.”

Allison Keithley backed Garvey’s call, saying a streetlight shines into her son’s bedroom each night and that the town should consider his recommendations as it installs lighting in other areas, including along the parkway. She also tied the issue to pedestrian safety, saying she has repeatedly seen drivers fail to stop for people at crossings near Second and Fourth streets on Timnath Parkway. Keithley said she has watched “6, 7 cars just drive through without stopping” while she was trying to cross, including with her son in a stroller, and said she has also seen children attempt to cross as drivers kept moving.

The comments came as the town continues a broader streetlight acquisition effort. In his June 23 public works report, Public Works Director Justin Stone said staff and the town’s consultant, Tanko Lighting, are working with Xcel Energy and PVREA on acquiring additional streetlights and reviewing a scope of work and fee from Xcel that outlines the next steps. Later in council discussion, Stone said the town is updating its standards to include dark-sky provisions while also accounting for safety needs on different roadways. He said the town currently owns about one-third of roughly 2,000 streetlights.

The same public works report lists the Timnath Parkway project from Buss Grove to Main Street in the bidding and construction phase. The project would extend Timnath Parkway north from the Buss Grove roundabout to connect back into Main Street and includes about 3,500 feet of roadway, a new two-lane rural arterial with a median and sidewalks. Construction is scheduled for June 2026, pending council approval.