Haverhill resident asks supervisors to consider light trespass ordinance
A Haverhill resident petitioned the Marshall County Board of Supervisors to consider a light trespass ordinance due to a dispute with a neighbor's property. She also urged the board to proactively draft specific zoning standards for data centers, citing concerns about light pollution, water consumption, and energy use. The board discussed her concerns but took no immediate action.
Amy Sinclaire, a resident of Haverhill, Iowa, appealed to the Marshall County Board of Supervisors during their Wednesday meeting, requesting that they consider implementing a "light trespass" ordinance. Her plea stemmed from an ongoing dispute with a neighboring property owner, identified as DC Brown, who operates a stock car manufacturing business on land Sinclaire believes is improperly zoned as residential. Sinclaire's attempts to resolve the lighting issue directly with the business owner and through the Marshall County Zoning Administrator, Tyler Kelley, were unsuccessful, as no specific county ordinance addresses light nuisances.
Sinclaire's presentation extended beyond the light issue, advocating for the board to direct staff to begin drafting specific zoning standards for data centers in Marshall County. She emphasized the county's vulnerability as a target for data center development due to its rural land and energy infrastructure. Sinclaire detailed potential environmental and community harms from unregulated data centers, including light pollution, high water and energy consumption, low-frequency noise, and the loss of agricultural land.
Supervisor Christian Goodman acknowledged Sinclaire's concerns but suggested she continue working directly with the property owner, noting the difficulty of creating a countywide ordinance for a single issue. Board Chairman Jarret Heil indicated that more research was needed before any ordinance could be enacted. Randy Brown, son of DC Brown and co-owner of the properties, stated to the Times-Republican that the light in question is a standard dusk-to-dawn shop light, intended for security, and that Sinclaire is the only person who has complained.