Are the Premium Outlets Too Bright at Night?

The town of Merrimack measured illumination levels at the Merrimack Premium Outlets in response to abutter concerns that its lights are too bright at night.

The conclusion: The light's all right.

That is, the illumination levels measured on July 11 are "all within the levels approved by the Planning Board, and indicate the lighting on the site is compliant with the Planning Board's approval," according to a letter Community Development Director Timothy J. Thompson sent Monday to Gordon Leedy, director of land development for Vanasse Hangen Brustlin.

However, Thompson said issues remain.

"While the illumination levels at grade are compliant, it is apparent that there are still some remaining issues to the lighting at the site and the visibility of the lighting fixtures to those in the neighborhood to the north of the project site," Thompson writes.

Thompson is asking for the outlets to consider turning off any unneeded lighting on the site after they close – providing, of course, adequate lighting to ensure employee safety after hours.

Another option, Thompson says, is the addition of larger shields on the northerly banks of lights near the residential abutters.

The Community Development Director's letter is attached as a PDF file, along with an engineer's photometric assessment of the Merrimack Premium Outlets at night.