Boiler Bay Beacon
LINCOLN CITY, Ore. — Lincoln City is progressing toward potential certification as Oregon’s first coastal International Dark Sky Community, with a feasibility study set to conclude this winter.
The City Council directed staff in late 2024 to explore reducing light trespass and pollution, particularly on beaches. Explore Lincoln City, the local visitors bureau, contracted with dark skies consultant Dawn Nilson through Travel Oregon to conduct Phase One, including a lighting inventory, public engagement and light monitoring.
Early results from the summer inventory identify commercial and institutional lighting as major contributors to light pollution, with unshielded residential lights and overly bright commercial signs causing trespass onto beaches and open spaces. About 200 city-owned fixtures require shielding or brightness adjustments, though retrofit costs are undetermined.
Certification from DarkSky International requires a one-time $250 fee and compliance with lighting standards. Existing city codes already prohibit up-lighting and glare into residential areas, but updates may address lumens, blue light and compliance timelines.
The initiative has support from partners including the Oregon Coast Visitors Association, Central Oregon Coast Friends of the Night Sky and Chinook Winds Casino Resort, though the city has provided no funding. However, some local commentary questions the expense and benefits, viewing town halls as advocacy for city spending.
Oregon now has six designated dark sky areas, including recent community certifications in Antelope and Sisters. Both towns reported community-wide backing, with ordinance updates and education efforts leading to certification without notable opposition.
Explore Lincoln City will present the full Phase One report to the City Council this winter, followed by a decision on pursuing Phase Two, which includes ordinance revisions and further outreach.
For more details, visit Explore Lincoln City’s dark skies page.
The Lincoln City City Council holds regular meetings on the second and fourth Mondays of each month at 6 p.m. in Council Chambers at City Hall, 801 SW U.S. Highway 101. Following the most recent meeting on September 22, the next sessions are scheduled for October 13, October 27, and November 10, 2025.
Is there actually a problem or are people selfishly pursuing their extreme desires and wanting the good people on the coast to pay for it? This seems suspicious. I’ve lived here for 59 years near Boiler Bay and haven’t seen any problems here. Obviously Lincoln County government is churning with problems of their own making. Is this another layer of good intentions leading to unintended consequences that drain families of their livelihood? We need more information regarding this idea before it becomes another financial burden placed on the backs of coastal families and residents.