Lexington continues tweaking street light rules

The Lexington Town Council met for its monthly meeting on Monday, Nov. 2, and continued its long-running discussion of Lexington’s street light ordinance. 

Councilman Gavin Smith presented the ordinance and opened by saying, “Staff has researched — I’ll add, extensively — and council has studied and discussed the ordinance since the August 2026 council work session.”

The August work session was when the street light ordinance subject was first broached.

Smith then said that during the Oct. 19 work session, the council had unanimously agreed  it was necessary for the planning commission to review and make recommendations for updating the ordinance, which is related to design and lighting frequency standards.

“Additionally, council agreed that it would be appropriate for the planning commission to recommend removal of the reference to town financial obligations for lighting from the ordinance, as Chapter 154 of the municipal code pertains specifically to land development regulations,” Smith said.

The financial element of the ordinance was the main discussion topic at the Oct. 19 town council work session. Council members were split on how to tackle the outdated ordinance, the parameters of which were set in 1986, and were given three courses of action.

Councilman Todd Lyle had advocated for the third option: phasing out the ordinance over a two-to-five-year period during which “lighting contracts would remain with the applicable homeowners association, private owner and energy provider,” according to council documents.

Smith disagreed, saying that could lead to residents shelling out for a fee without receiving the lighting they pay for, and made the motion to bring the issue to a vote.

 “All of that said, what I would ask, or move, is that we direct the planning commission to review and make recommendations to update our Ordinance 154.06.15 ... and remove the language requiring financial obligation of the town,” Smith said.

Smith’s motion was seconded by Mayor Hazel Livingston,.

The council then unanimously moved the ordinance to the planning commission for judgment and advice.

The Lexington Town Council will hold its next meeting at 6 p.m. Monday, Dec. 7, in the Lexington Municipal Complex at 111 Maiden Lane.