Street Lights around the Neighborhood
    Bill Holcomb & Francesca Funk

February neighborhood meeting discussed street lights in our neighborhood. Neighbor Bill Holcomb has been investigating the street light situation, because he noticed some areas are not well lit, whereas others are so well lit as to even be considered “over” lit.  His trip to city hall (described below) revealed that when our neighborhood was built, there were no city requirements for placing street lights. (Nowadays, new development is required to place a street light every 250 feet.) Also, it was more common at that time to have yard lamps  in control of the property owner. In this situation, the city reacts to requests, but does not proactively install street lights. 

Discussion revolved around which areas were known to be poorly lit and which areas were in fact already well lit by yard lamps. Also, some neighbors suggested providing high-efficiency light bulbs to those with yard lamps that are not used or even installing more attractive street lighting—such as yard lamps—rather than creosote poles. If you have an opinion about the street/sidewalk lighting your area or an area you walk through at night, please feel free to contact either Bill Holcomb (972-438-4316) or Francesca Funk (972-554-8898). We will revisit this issue in the future, with particular attention to residents’ concerns and preferences.

~*~*~*~*~*~* What Bill Found Out from City Hall ~*~*~*~*~*~*

Bill Holcomb went to city hall and spoke with Gary Hurtado about the street lights  in our homeowners’ area and procedures if someone wants to get a light installed on their street.  Mr. Hurtado provided a map of the area with all street lights marked. See the Map  The map is not detailed as to the addresses where existing lights are located in the middle of the block but you can see the irregularity of spacing.

 Mr. Hurtado explained that when the area north of Grauwyler was built the city did not require the developers to put up any lights.  He said that now the city requires lights every 250 feet and the developer is required to put them in. He did not make any statements regarding the area south of Grauwyler but he did say they require lights where a road makes a curve as at the two curves on Limetree.

 The procedures for areas like ours are that the city will:

é   survey the situation

é   determine where existing power poles are located (usually at the rear of the property)

é   send a letter asking the owners of the two lots between which the light pole will be placed at the curb to sign an release on the easement for permission to install the light between their property.  This is necessary because the power wires will be run between the two houses. 

If either owner objects or does not sign the easement release, then the light will not installed.  If trees are located where the wire will be strung, neither the city nor TXU will cut the trees and this could also end the installation. 

Mr. Hurtado said sometimes that one owner will sign and the other will not.  After three or four letters are sent by the city asking permission and are not returned, the city drops the whole matter and does not pursue it. 

The agreement is strictly between the city and the two property owners where the light and pole will be located.  Neighbors across the street are not considered or consulted.

Bill also asked about the trimming of trees where limbs are blocking existing lights and he said that city crews do this periodically.  They will check for these and trim as deemed appropriate. This is not the massive style of trimming that the TXU crews do when they are clearing trees directly under the power lines.  It is just enough to get the limbs away from the light.