| A major update to the Fort Bend County lighting ordinance, which was supported by the majority of the Fort Bend County Commissioners Court, was tabled on Tuesday.
It will be considered at the next meeting.
Tuesday's proposal called for amendments to the county's policy on outdoor lighting, which was created in 2004 to protect the George Observatory and to preserve the "country" feel of the unincorporated area. The order originally divided the county into lighting "zones" based on U.S. Census tracts, with areas of more dense populations subject to looser requirements than the more rural portions of the county.
The amendments up for vote Tuesday called for dividing the county into permanent zones based on geography, replacing the fluctuating zones that had been based on the Census.
Needville resident George Inderweizen, who played a large role in creating the order and the amendment, spoke in favor of the amendment.
"As development occurs around the George Observatory, by having the fixed zones, it will better protect the observatory," he said.
He also said he spoke at a homeowners association meeting in Fulbrook, where most residents supported the concept of the lighting ordinance.
"I think the ordinance is producing a better quality of living in Fort Bend County," said Inderweizen.
Precinct 3 Commissioner Andy Meyers, however, said he had questions about whether the ordinance required a takings assessment, which is a study on potential loss of property value.
The assistant county attorney confirmed that no such study was conducted.
"If it was required and we didn't do one, then this ordinance is void," Meyers said.
Meyers, who voted against the order in 2004, said in court that developers indicated to him the ordinance causes their property values to lower.
County Judge Bob Hebert said that "even though (the amendment) makes sense to me," he would honor Meyers' request to study the potential need for a takings order. He asked the county attorney to study the issue for the next meeting, when the amendment will be reconsidered.
Precinct 1 Commissioner Tom Stavinoha, who had been pushing for the ordinance, said the new boundaries divide the county into three permanent zones.
Lighting Zone 1, which has the strictest requirements, consists of the largely rural area surrounding the observatory in south Fort Bend County. Lighting Zone 2 is located south of U.S. 59, while Lighting Zone 3 covers the northern portions of the county.
Stavinoha said currently, some developers must abide by the rules of Zone 2, despite being located more than 30 miles away from the observatory.
"We thought this was going to make Andy Meyers happy, but than he pulled this stunt where he wants us to conduct a takings study to see if we've affected the ability of the developer to put projects in because of the lighting ordinance," he said.
Residential developers have been "OK" with the ordinance, said Stavinoha, but commercial developers have opposed it for the restrictions placed on parking lot lighting.
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