The purpose of this chapter is to establish lighting requirements for personal safety and crime prevention while regulating any spillover of light and glare on operators of motor vehicles, pedestrians, and land uses near a light source to promote personal and traffic safety and to prevent the creation of public nuisances.

In an effort to encourage the implementation and usage of green and sustainable infrastructure and equipment, the City of East Moline encourages developers to utilize, whenever possible, high efficiency lighting such as light emitting diodes ("LEDs"), compact fluorescent lamps ("CFLs"), etc., in their projects. (Ord. 18-08, 6-3-2019)

   (A)   Except for single-family and two-family dwellings, plans for required parking lot and security lighting shall be approved by the Director of Engineering prior to approval and issuance of permits. Plans, at appropriate scale, shall be based on accurate, approved final site plans and shall depict all exterior lighting as to its location, orientation and configuration. This must include, but not be limited to:

      1.   Luminaire height;

      2.   Luminaire and standard technical specifications;

      3.   Intensity of illumination shall be measured at the least point of illumination and the greatest point of illumination when measured from ground level;

      4.   Type of light source (metal halide, high pressure sodium, etc.);

      5.   Hours of illumination; and

      6.   A photometric plan superimposed on the site plan for each classification of lighting with points no greater than thirty feet (30') apart. (Ord. 18-08, 6-3-2019)

   (A)   The City requires adherence to the following illumination standards:

      1.   Wall Or Roof Lighting: Wall or roof lighting may be used to illuminate the pedestrian walkways, entrance areas, and yard areas within thirty feet (30') of the building. No wall or roof lighting shall be used to illuminate areas for motor vehicle parking or access unless the Director of Engineering finds the following:

         (a)   That the proposed lighting is not in conflict with the stated purpose in this chapter;

         (b)   That the proposed lighting will not unreasonably harm or restrict public health, safety, and welfare or create a nuisance; and

         (c)   That the proposed luminaire has a cutoff angle of less than or equal to sixty six degrees (66°).

      2.   Freestanding Luminaries: Any open area used for motor vehicle parking, storage, or access shall be illuminated with freestanding luminaries. Freestanding luminaries are permitted to be a maximum of thirty feet (30') in height with a three foot (3') support, for a maximum height from the ground of thirty three feet (33'). When a luminaire is located within five hundred feet (500') of a Residential Zoning District, the maximum permitted luminaire height shall be twenty five feet (25'). All measurements shall be taken from the average elevation of the finished grade within ten feet (10') of the structure or fixture to the highest point of the luminaire. All luminaries must have a total cutoff angle equal to or less than ninety degrees (90°). The use of exterior lighting with a cutoff angle greater than ninety degrees (90°) shall be permitted only when the Director of Engineering finds the following:

         (a)   That the lighting is not in conflict with the stated purpose in this chapter;

         (b)   That the proposed lighting will not unreasonably harm or restrict public health, safety, and welfare or create a nuisance; and

         (c)   That the proposed lighting will not result in an impairment of vision creating a hazard for vehicular or pedestrian traffic.

      3.   Low Pressure Sodium Fixtures: In no instance shall low pressure sodium fixtures be used to meet the requirements of this chapter unless the Director of Engineering finds the following:

         (a)   That the proposed lighting is not in conflict with the stated purpose in this section;

         (b)   That the proposed lighting will not unreasonably harm or restrict public health, safety, and welfare or create a nuisance; and

         (c)   That the color distortion effect of low pressure sodium lighting will not create a hindrance to crime prevention and investigation.

      4.   Intensity Of Lighting: The following shall be adhered to:

         (a)   The amount of illumination attributable to exterior lighting from a property shall not exceed one foot-candle when measured at any boundary line with an adjoining property. This provision may be waived by the Director of Engineering when:

            (1)   The proposed lighting is not in conflict with the stated purpose of this chapter.

            (2)   The proposed lighting will not unreasonably harm or restrict public health, safety, and welfare or create a nuisance.

            (3)   The proposed lighting will not result in an impairment of vision creating a hazard for vehicular or pedestrian traffic.

         (b)   All parking lot and parking structure lighting located within three hundred feet (300') of a Residential Zoning District may be illuminated not more than one hour before the start of business and shall be extinguished within one hour after the end of business except as approved by the Director of Engineering after finding the following:

            (1)   The property has been identified as an area where the incidence or potential for crime warrant additional lighting.

            (2)   Additional lighting is required to increase visibility of a property which is not readily accessible for police during routine patrol.

            (3)   The use of timers, sensors, or other devices that produce a reduced lighting level that does not conflict with the stated purpose in this chapter.

      5.   Glare And Illumination: In all zoning districts, any lighting shall be arranged to reflect the light away from adjoining property. A person shall not conduct a use that has a source of illumination that produces glare clearly visible beyond a property line or creates a sensation of brightness within a visual field so as to cause annoyance, discomfort, or impairment of vision. The use of lenses, deflectors, shields, louvers, or prismatic control devices shall be used to eliminate nuisance and hazardous lighting to facilitate compliance with this requirement.

      6.   Parking Structures: Luminaries used for illumination of designated pedestrian walkways in parking structures (parking areas serving more than 2 residential dwellings or any nonresidential land use within a structure with 1 or more levels) shall be of a significantly different color value than luminaries used for illuminating vehicle parking and drive aisles. (Ord. 18-08, 6-3-2019)

   (A)   Any new lighting installed after the effective date of this title shall be in compliance with the requirements of this title. Any lighting in existence before the effective date of this title that does not comply with these requirements shall be considered legally nonconforming and may remain, subject to the following provisions:

      1.   Alterations To Existing Lighting:

         (a)   When poles and support structures are removed and replaced for reasons other than acts of God or accidents, they must be replaced with poles and supports that comply with this chapter.

         (b)   When luminaries are replaced, they must be replaced with luminaries that comply with all provisions of this chapter.

      2.   Removal And Replacement Of Parking Lot Surface: A parking lot or portion thereof shall be considered "removed and replaced" when any portion of the existing parking surface material is removed and a new surface is installed. When less than fifty percent (50%) of the gross area of the parking lot surface on a particular site is removed and replaced, only the parking area replaced must be provided with lighting in compliance with this chapter. If greater than fifty percent (50%) of the parking area on a particular site is removed and replaced at one time, the entire parking lot on the site where the construction activity occurs must be in full compliance with this chapter.

      3.   New Parking Lots Or Parking Lot Additions: When a new parking lot or addition to an existing parking lot is constructed, the new lot or lot addition must be provided with lighting in compliance with this chapter.

      4.   Renovations: When the cost of renovation of the principal structure reaches the thresholds detailed in this title, all existing lighting shall be brought into compliance to the extent required in this chapter.

      5.   New Structures, Additions, Or Replacements: When a site is improved with new structures, additions to, or replacements of existing structures, the lighting for the new structure, addition or replacement on the site must be upgraded with complying lighting. The parking lot lighting must be upgraded with complying lighting over a portion of the parking area that is equivalent to the amount of parking that would be required for the new structure, addition or replacement. In the event that the new structure, addition or replacement is accompanied by a new or replaced parking area, the amount of upgraded lighting area shall be that required under this chapter.

      6.   Development Application: When a development application is made for a site for a nonadministrative permit, the East Moline Plan Commission or East Moline City Council, may as a condition of approval, require compliance with any or all of the standards of this chapter; and the extent of compliance required in such cases may be greater than that otherwise required in this chapter, if deemed reasonably necessary to protect the public health, safety, or welfare and to achieve the purposes of this chapter. (Ord. 18-08, 6-3-2019)

Any light intensity measurement taken at the property line shall be measured at the greatest point of illumination of said property line. Any measurements to determine the minimum and maximum lighting levels internal to a site will be measured by positioning the light meter horizontally at ground level at the greatest and least points of artificial illumination. (Ord. 18-08, 6-3-2019)

   (A)   Modifications to the requirements of this section may be approved as part of a final development plan for a planned development, as per chapter 27 of this title, pursuant to the provisions provided:

      1.   That any deviations from lighting standards established by this chapter are clearly delineated in the plan submission reviewed by the East Moline Plan Commission.

      2.   That any deviations are consistent with the purposes of this chapter.

      3.   That the minimum light level proposed provides a minimum of seventy five percent (75%) of the illumination required in this chapter.

      4.   That the height of support poles above grade does not exceed the maximum permitted by this chapter by more than twenty five percent (25%), except that no development shall be allowed for increased support pole height within five hundred feet (500') of a Residential Zoning District.

      5.   That no increase in glare occurs as a result of deviation from the adopted standards. (Ord. 18-08, 6-3-2019)