The purpose of these standards is to protect the health, safety and welfare of the public by recognizing that buildings and sites need to be illuminated for safety, security and visibility for pedestrians and motorists. To do so, the standards provide for various forms of lighting that will minimize light pollution; maintain safe nighttime driver performance on public roadways; preserve the restful quality of nighttime by eliminating intrusive artificial light and lighting that unnecessarily contributes to "sky glow"; and light trespass from light sources onto adjacent properties; and conservation of electrical energy.

The lighting standards shall apply to any light source that may be visible from any property line, or beyond, for the site from which the light is emanating. Whenever a person is required to obtain a building permit, electrical permit for outdoor lighting or signage, a special land use approval, subdivision approval, condominium approval, or site plan approval from the city, the applicant shall submit sufficient information to enable the development official and/or planning commission to determine whether the proposed lighting will comply with these standards.

The following information must be included in any application submitted for approval pursuant to this section:

a.

Location of all freestanding, building-mounted and canopy light fixtures on the site plan and building elevations.

b.

Photometric grid overlaid on the proposed site plan indicating the overall light intensity throughout the site (in footcandles).

c.

Specifications and details for the type of fixture being proposed including the total lumen output, type of lamp and method of shielding.

d.

Use of the fixtures proposed.

e.

Any other information deemed necessary by the development official to determine compliance with provisions of this section.

Unless exempted under Section 78-464, Lighting, all lighting must comply with the following standards:

a.

Freestanding pole lighting requirements.

1.

Exterior lighting shall be fully shielded and directed downward to prevent off-site glare.

2.

The intensity of light within a site shall not exceed ten (10) foot-candles within any site or one (1) foot-candle at any property line, except where it abuts a residential district or use whereby a maximum of 0.5 foot-candles is permitted. The only exception is with gas station canopy lighting, where a maximum of twenty (20) foot-candles is permitted within the site but the above standards shall apply to intensity at the property line.

3.

Metal halide fixtures shall be used in an effort to maintain a unified lighting standard throughout the city and prevent "sky glow."

4.

The planning commission may approve decorative light fixtures as an alternative to shielded fixtures when it can be proven that there will be no off-site glare and the proposed fixtures are necessary to preserve the intended character of the site.

5.

Lighting fixtures shall not exceed a height of twenty (20) feet measured from the ground level to the centerline of the light source. These light fixture height standards shall not apply to public lighting in a road right-of-way.

6.

The planning commission may modify these height standards in commercial and industrial districts, based on consideration of the following: the position and height of buildings, other structures, and trees on the site; the potential off-site impact of the lighting; the character of the proposed use; and, the character of surrounding land use.

7.

In no case shall the lighting exceed the maximum building height in the district in which it is located.

b.

Building mounted lighting requirements.

1.

Building-mounted lighting shall be fully shielded and directed downward to prevent off-site glare. The intensity of light shall not exceed ten (10) foot-candles within any site or one (1) foot-candle at any property line, except where it abuts a residential district or use whereby a maximum of 0.5 foot-candles is permitted at the property line.

2.

Metal halide fixtures shall be used in an effort to prevent "sky glow."

3.

Luminous tube and exposed bulb fluorescent lighting is prohibited as an architectural detail on all buildings, e.g. along the roof line and eaves, around windows, etc. The planning commission may approve internally illuminated architectural bands when it can be shown that the treatment will enhance the appearance of the building or is necessary for security purposes.

4.

The internal illumination of building mounted canopies is prohibited.

5.

The planning commission may approve decorative light fixtures as an alternative to shielded fixtures when it can be proven that there will be no off-site glare and the proposed fixtures will improve the appearance of the site.

c.

Other lighting requirements.

1.

Indirect illumination of signs, canopies and buildings is permitted provided a maximum one hundred twenty-five (125) watt bulb is utilized and there is no glare.

2.

The use of laser light source, search lights or any similar high intensity light for outdoor advertisement or entertainment is prohibited.

3.

Lighting shall not be of a flashing, moving or intermittent type.

4.

Any light fixtures visible through a window must be shielded to prevent glare at the property line.

5.

Luminous tube and exposed bulb fluorescent lighting (visible from the property line) is prohibited unless it is part of a sign that meets the requirements of the article XV, signs.

The following are exempt from the lighting requirements of this section, except to the extent that the development official determines that reasonable modifications are necessary to minimize undesirable impacts consistent with the purpose and intent of this section, or to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public:

a.

Sports fields.

b.

Private swimming pools.

c.

Temporary holiday decorations.

d.

Window displays without glare.

e.

Shielded pedestrian walkway lighting.

f.

Soffit lighting.

g.

Residential lighting with no off-site glare.

h.

Street lights.

i.

Lighting of government flags.