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Removing Private Streetlights

Started by MichaelS56 • 7 replies • 197 views

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MichaelS56 (Minnesota)
Posts: 858
Posted:
Our association has 13 privately owned streetlights that are in need of replacement. The Board has formed a committee to look into the idea of having dusk to dawn exterior garage LED lights on each unit and determine if that type of lighting could replace all of the streetlights or even reduce the number of streetlights that would need to be replaced. Thoughts please.
CathyA3 (Ohio)
Posts: 6,299
Posted:
My main questions have to do with who owns what. Is this a condo community (the association owns the exteriors of the homes) or a single family home HOA (where individual owners own the garages and any exterior lights affixed to them)?

It's all well and good for an association to decide that LEDs on garages would be cheaper and would provide the same amount of light - although the latter is questionable - but if the HOA has no authority to require or regulate lights on garages, then I think the question is probably moot.

Presumably these are the sorts of issues that a committee would have to address. If I were on the board, I'd want to give the committee some feasibility guidelines so that they don't waste their time on things that aren't doable.

(FWIW, my community replaced the bulbs on our street lights with LEDs. Light pollution is a thing with these - I had to buy blackout drapes for the front bedroom, otherwise no one could sleep in that room.)
TimB4 (Tennessee)
Posts: 21,059
Posted:
Often the power company owns and maintains the light.
That would need to be verified.
If you wanted them out, the Association may have to pay the power company to make that happen.

If electric consumption is a concern, there are different types of lamps that can be used on the light poles.
ElleN (Idaho)
Posts: 4,420
Posted:
Quote:
Posted By MichaelS56 on 01/04/2024 4:25 AM
Our association has 13 privately owned streetlights that are in need of replacement. The Board has formed a committee to look into the idea of having dusk to dawn exterior garage LED lights on each unit and determine if that type of lighting could replace all of the streetlights or even reduce the number of streetlights that would need to be replaced. Thoughts please.
From an earlier thread:
Quote:
Posted By MichaelS56 on 03/25/2022 5:11 AM
Boards have a role in the process of working with the company that is doing the Replacement Reserve Study. We had three of our Board members go over the Replacement Reserve study and determined that some changes to the study were needed. After working with the company, the end result is now more accurate study for the present Board uses to determine major maintenance decisions. One example is the replacement of our streetlights. The study had the cost at $45,000 but they had forgotten the cost of the underground wiring. The cost for this project is now listed at $100.000.00. Yes, these companies are made up of professional staff, but the Board of Directors have a responsibility to carefully review the study.
Like CathyA3 said, please indicate who (owner or HOA) is responsible for the maintenance of the exterior of the garages.

Consider finding out how much a professional lighting study would cost.

Check with the city land use department to see if the HOA has any obligations to it on this subject. When the subdivision was built, the city might very well have approved a certain amount of lighting.

Are the roads being lighted privately owned?
TimB4 (Tennessee)
Posts: 21,059
Posted:
Michael did say that the lights in question are privately owned.

The questions I would have is:

1) Who will pay the electric bill for those lights?
2) What if an owner doesn't want lights that close to their property (for any number of reasons)?
3) Is the garage considered common property, exclusive use common property or private property?
4) What might the liability be if the owner says that the installation caused xyz?
MichaelS56 (Minnesota)
Posts: 858
Posted:
The association owns the streetlights and is responsible for the exterior garage lights.
LoriM15 (Florida)
Posts: 1,009
Posted:
Before making this decision, I would consider contacting your local fire department and have them give you an opinion on whether the garage lights would be adequate for them to 1) find the closest hydrant 2) see the address of a unit to respond with a fire truck or ambulance.

Our local fire marshall is very helpful in these types of situations. Having adequate lighting for emergency vehicles is the most important issue.
LetA (Nevada)
Posts: 2,679
Posted:
Our HOA almost immediately after declarant turnover got rid of the yellow hue halogen
bulbs for a more softer white light bulb. I was not on the board then, but it was quite costly.
Over $30,000.00 to replace all the bulbs that fit into the existing fixtures. We did have to install one
light pole that had no electricity at its needed installation point. This is just a freestanding light pole
with a solar panel and battery.

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