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Tuesday, May 6, 2008

Providing context for the White Rock Lake crime lights project

By James Northrup

Email Print Tell us your story Comments (23)

White Rock Crime Lights meeting

  • When: Thursday, May 22, 2008, 7:30 p.m.
  • Where: Winfrey Point at White Rock Lake, 950 East Lawther Drive, Dallas
  • Cost: Free
  • Age limit: All ages

DALLAS — Planning at White Rock Lake Park might be described as "feudal" - meaning each interest group has their own "fiefdom" - and they often feud. So they tend to go off on tangents of their own - loosely within the context of an antiquated "master plan".

The White Rock Lake Task Force was established to oversee such proposals and make recommendations to the Park Board.

Some years ago, White Rock Lake Foundation (WRLF) proposed putting lights around the lakefront to the Task Force. Obviously the park requires some unobtrusive lighting - at the entrance to parking lots, etc. - as anticipated in the "master plan".

The City did not want to pay for it - neither the light poles nor the cost of the utilities. Members of the Task Force panned the proposal - based on the aesthetics and the lack of evidence that it would reduce crime.

So WRLF took it upon themselves to raise the money and do it themselves - as quoted in the Advocate, February 2005.

WRLF was unable to raise funds for its pet project. (Their website shows a rendering of light poles during the day . . . which is not the issue ) So WRLF got Parks to find money in the spillway repair project and got an earmark in a bond issue.

As reported in The Dallas Observer, Hossley Lighting Associates was brought in as a "consultant" by WRLF and Parks.

The plan was done by Hossley, WRLF, Parks (Willis Winters), and a DPD patrol officer. Only Hossley knew anything about lighting - the WRLF are laymen, Willis Winters is an architect, and the DPD officer was a beat cop. Parks and WRLF rubber stamped the final plan - with no input from the neighbors or neighborhoods. (Why bother !)

And the contractor started putting in the light poles - until the neighbors started to notice - and complain. When they complained, Councilman Sheffie Kadane called a halt to the project.

The City's cover story on this escapade is the need for more "security". The standard scare tactic. From a security standpoint, the need for this much lakeside lighting has never been demonstrated. What we have instead are anecdotal comments - that this project is a "proactive preventative measure" etc. That the "DPD wants it", etc. -- All rationalizations after-the-fact to justify the project.

Most crime in the park is burglary of motor vehicles - during the day Lighting lake front lots won't prevent that. They will just enable burglars to see into parked cars - and burglarize them at night. Lakeside lighting will attract more people to the park after the midnight curfew.

So on balance, over-lighting the lake shore could make crime go up in the park - not down. Security cameras would be a better deterrent - they work day and night.

The real crime here is the lights themselves -- a $500,000 contract to ruin the lakeside every night for everyone.

A meeting on the issue is planned for May 22 at 7:30 at Winfrey Point.

This story was submitted by a member of the Pegasus News community.

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Comments

tiffany0333 Anonymous

Today has been a horrible day (5/8/08) for me, at about 5 pm (in absolute broad daylight), me and my boyfriend were out at the lake just enjoying the weather. Little did we know, two hispanic punks were busting out the window to his truck. They stole my purse and his $1500 bowling equipment. I was horrified that this happened! I am NEVER going back there. Thankfully my keys were not in the purse. Lighting is a big issue, but also a larger presence of patrolmen (not just on bikes!) are needed throughout the parking lots. Today there were a total of 3 cars that were broken into. What is going on???

PS we were able to get the tag numbers, so hopefully these idiots will be stopped soon.

2 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

James Scott

James Scott Verified

It sucks either way this happened to you, as it shouldn't really matter - but out of curiosity, were your items in plain view in the truck? I've noticed about 90% of the time (not an official stat) that I've heard about these types of break-ins, the thieves new exactly what they were after b/c they could see it through the windows?

Like I said - I'm sorry for your loss, but if nothing else this is a reminder to everyone else that keeping your valuables out of plain site will greatly reduce your likelihood of a break-in. I know from experience, as my partner's car was broken into several years ago in Deep Ellum b/c her backpack was just sitting on the back seat just screaming to be stolen - interestingly enough the only the actually valuable items in the car were Christmas presents hidden underneath the front seat and were completely untouched.

This ends today's public service announcement.

2 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Hoolavoo Anonymous

Wouldn't this create a central connection point (or points, for that matter) for people who are committing breaking and entering of homes and businesses in the area to connect, load up and then hit more houses/stores/victims in the same area?

One-stop "shopping"....ugh.

Just can't see the benefit of that.

I myself would just prefer that they have more police presence at key points in the parks and trails.

2 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

chiptex Anonymous

The lakeshore lighting plan will do nothing to prevent BMV during the day. Which is when BMV happens.

Parks could take the $500K for the lights and buy security cameras = which would be a deterrent.

Instead, they picked the worst light fixtures possible.

The lights the Park Department plans to install on the parking lots are "acorn" style street lamps = which are intended to shine light horizontally up a street from a corner

Not directly down onto a parking lot

In fact, since the bulb sits on top of the pole, the one place the light will not shine directly is down

Onto the parking lot

Instead - they would shine out over the water and across the park.

Creating the maximum amount of light pollution - for the least good.

Park Department could not have picked a worse fixture to install on parking lots next to a shoreline.

Or found a worse way to blow $500K for "security"

1 month, 4 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Chotl Anonymous

I first want to say that the meeting went well and did address the issues of the environmental and light pollution impact on White Rock Lake. I truly feel that the parks department as well as the engineers did not go any further in thought than what was drawn on their plans. There has not been any environmental studies done and the city does not do such studies as of this point when making such decisions. The Spillway project has been planned the same way without any thought on the environmental impact on White Rock Lake. Kadane did agree that the amount of lights were to many and will form a Steering Committee to address both issues. Perhaps with this in place there might be a combined plan that will satisfy all parties without having any negative impact the fragile balance of White Rock Lake. Just a quick note: The White Rock Master Plan has a bond amount of 70 million dollars. That does make one wonder what will the finished Bond Project will look like with the already careless decisions the city has made thus far.

1 month, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

xdavidwattsx

xdavidwattsx Anonymous

I happen to fully support the lake lighting. It's nice to be able to run the lake at night when the temps start to cool off and not trip over your feet or get run over by bikers.

1 month, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

chiptex Anonymous

David Watt must have missed the meeting

The trail lights were dropped - no funding

Bring a flashlight or headlight if you run at night

1 month, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

chiptex Anonymous

For a good report on the meeting - http://www.dallas.org/node/423

Of the 100 people, overwhelming disapproval of the plan - for a dozen good reasons.

Lights were turned on the Fisher Road lot across the lake - and they looked like a cheap motel.

DPD admitted that more lights won't reduce crime - since most crime is BMV - during the day, as noted in earlier posts. No increased security.

Parks admitted that there is no ordinance to require the lights - no written policy, nada

And after hemming and hawing, Parks admitted that there is no funding for trail lights, just parking lots.

So Councilman Kadane agreed to revise the whole plan - and either greatly reduce number of lights per parking lot (no trail lights) or eliminate them as unnecessary for security and just so much pollution

1 month, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

xdavidwattsx

xdavidwattsx Anonymous

Chiptex - YOU look like a cheap motel.

Quit being a lights hater.

1 month, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

xdavidwattsx

xdavidwattsx Anonymous

Upon further review - the fact that Mr. Northrup own a big fat fancy house RIGHT ON THE LAKE certainly couldn't have anything to do with this nonsense about "light pollution" could it?

What a bunch of BS from the city that is the "can't do" city.

1 month, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Rawlins Gilliland Verified

I have always loved the dark moonlit nights at the lake. Yes, yes. I can hear someone saying,"That's dangerous!". Then stay home. You would anyway. To light this lake will undoubtedly be with those sodium vapor lights than make everything look like Chernobyl.

PS: "Light Polution" is actually not a new concept. It is, for instance, against the law to light your property and have YOUR light 'spill' onto a neighbors'. Many Dallasites do not know that, but many readers have neighbors who have mounted one of those ghastly sodium vapor or even an earlier mercury vapor lamp that poisoned the way your property looked, or your backyard on the deck felt. Or...you did it yourself. My across the street neighbors made their drive way so bright that I can now film a movie in my living room...using only the glare of their garage mounted 'safety' feature.

I love White Rock where on a summer night you can see the stars. Where the night is night rather than like leaving WalMart en route to your car to unload your basket. Do you really think people who are scared of White Rock at night will now go there at night because the parking lots are lighted? Hey...wanta buy some beachfront ocean proerty in Garland?

1 month, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

xdavidwattsx

xdavidwattsx Anonymous

"That's dangerous!". Then stay home. You would anyway. "

Actually, I'm willing to bet I'm at the lake at night more than anyone else on here sans those that live there. Hey, I don't want the lake to look like Wally World but being able to see a little bit is truly welcome. There are parts covered in trees that are literally pitch black and I can barely see in front of me.

1 month, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

James Scott

James Scott Verified

So what about the '$500K contract' that it seemed like was already executed? If there is no funding, how was the contract allowed to move forward, and will they be able to get out of it?...or just another waste of the city's (rather, our) money?

1 month, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

chiptex Anonymous

White Rock "Lights Fantastic" was funded by funny money - part found money, part money TBD.

Part of the buy was taken from funds allocated to the spillway repair. The money for the trail lights is supposed to come from bond funds that are authorized but not sold yet - until 2009.

To learn more, contact Councilman Kadane - and ask to see the proposed new lighting plan and funding - sheffield.kadane@dallascityhall.com

1 month, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

xdavidwattsx

xdavidwattsx Anonymous

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

1 month, 2 weeks ago

Mike Orren

Mike Orren Staff

xdavid: let's stick to the issue instead of namecalling, ok?

1 month, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Rawlins Gilliland Verified

Massive crowd of freshfaced Pegasusians chanting in euphoric unison: "Mikey, Mikey, Mikey".

1 month, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

xdavidwattsx

xdavidwattsx Anonymous

Boo.

1 month, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

chiptex Anonymous

If there are any doubts about how this $500K lighting scam was sold to the gullible and those that afraid of the dark - read the report in Unfair Park -

http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/unfai...

1 month, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Billusa99

Billusa99 Anonymous

After 4 days of reading about the parochial insanity of N'Awlins politics, between NOWFE sips and sups, it's always nice to sit back with an iced coffee on Magazine and read about the parochial insanity of east Dallas politics.

The only difference being that culture comes with the insanity here, and anybody who acted like Sheffie Kadane wouldn't be a goofy, clueless council member. They'd already be Governor...

1 month, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Clay213 Anonymous

Dallas has to be the biggest small town in the US. No wonder deep pockets can run roost of this city so easily when everyone is so self centered and short sighted.

1 month, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Scott Doyle

Scott Doyle Verified

Massive crowd of freshfaced Pegasusians chanting in euphoric unison: "Miko, Miko, Miko".

Fixed.

1 month, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

chiptex Anonymous

They have started appointing members of the committee to redo the light plan. Heard from first appointee today.

The common sense approach would have started with the White Rock Lake Master Plan - which calls for no trail lighting at all

And very discrete lighting in the parking lots - as pointed out by the President of the Peninsula Neighborhood Association.

The Master Plan’s section on Lighting Design Guidelines states that “lighting should be carefully planned so that it appears to take a very minor role in the Park environment.”

Not, as Councilman Kadane pointed out, for a parking lot to be “lit up like a ball diamond”.

To accomplish this, the Master Plan requires the following:

  1. Fixtures should be shielded to minimize light pollution
  2. The number of fixtures should be minimal
  3. Use concealed light sources – including placement in trees
  4. Locate power supplies, ballasts, etc. underground
  5. Metal halide or mercury vapor bulbs

Lights for parking lots are required to be “down lights” whose “fixture should . . . minimize light pollution near residential areas.”

Simply put, the fixtures should not pollute horizontally – sideways – across the lake or into the neighborhoods.

And lights along the lakeside “should be located near existing or newly planted trees to minimize the fixture profile along the lake shore” .

None of these guidelines were observed by the Parks Department Architect. Or the salesman that sold him the wrong fixtures.

1 month, 1 week ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

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