In urban areas such as Dunkirk and Jamestown, just about everyone except criminals wants streetlights. That’s apparently not the case in subdivisions like Martha’s Vineyard.

Several homeowners in the enclave, which is just outside the village of Fredonia, spent half an hour of the Pomfret Town Board’s time recently complaining about two lights coming to the street. The board approved the lights in January.

Mariah Kravitz expressed concerns that installation of the lights will damage her yard, and go against the investment of time and money she has put into it. Kravitz later stated that she is not necessarily opposed to installing street lights in the area, she just wants to be part of the conversation about it.

Ted Tendorf said vehicle speed is more of a concern in the area than lighting, and alleged that residents did not receive enough notice about the project.

“I don’t see a lot of people getting up in the middle of the night and walking in the street,” he said.

Greg Hite also read a statement against the lights. Four other people attended the meeting in support of the anti-street lighting group, but did not speak.

After the complaints, Deputy Town Supervisor Ann Eckman read a letter of support for the lights from Andrew Benchley. He wrote there is a “real and growing safety concern” in the neighborhood without street lighting.

Street lights will deter crime and assist emergency responders, Benchley stated. He added that worries about light pollution deserve consideration, but current LED technology allows a balance between safety and lighting concerns.

Eckman also noted she had received four text messages of support for installation of the streetlights.

Highway Superintendent Jude Gardner is attempting to act as a peacemaker between the street light factions. He asked National Grid to stop site work on the utility poles for the lights until he can work up a plan for placement that satisfies the most possible people.

Gardner promised to speak with people who are both for and against the installation of the lights and hear them out if they think they should not be in certain spots.

However, as Town Supervisor Dan Pacos pointed out about National Grid, “It’s a public utility. It’s not something the public needs to agree on.”