A.

Purpose

This Section is intended to minimize the problems caused by improperly designed and installed outdoor lighting.

Improperly designed outdoor lighting can cause glare, defined as light emitted with an intensity great enough to reduce a viewer's ability to see and, in extreme cases, causing momentary blindness. Glare can create a nuisance or hazard for users of neighboring properties and for motorists or pedestrians on public streets. In addition, light that crosses a property boundary, particularly from a nonresidential to a residential property, can cause a nuisance by reducing nighttime privacy. These requirements are adopted to minimize glare from outdoor lighting and reduce the spillover of light beyond the area for which it is intended.

B.

Applicability

The requirements of this Section apply to lighting in the following locations, not including lighting of public streets:

1.

Outdoor lighting of land in the HO, HC, POR, PEC, OT, CCT, B-1, B-2, SC, BRX, BR, CR, TNC, CEF, M-1, M-2, SW, CE, CLI, TOD and CAC Districts; and

2.

Outdoor lighting of land designated for commercial, industrial, employment or open space uses in the NT, PGCC or MXD Districts; and

3.

In residential districts:

a.

Outdoor lighting of parking or loading areas; and

b.

On the site of an approved Conditional Use, outdoor lighting for parking or loading areas as well as other areas for which the decision of the Hearing Authority requires that these lighting standards be applied.

C.

Allowed Outdoor Lighting

Any lighting used to illuminate off-street parking areas shall be so arranged as to direct the light down, towards the parking area, and away from the adjoining lots in residential districts and any public street right-of-way.

Outdoor lighting shall be limited to the following types of fixtures. In these requirements, the term "lamp" refers to the component of the light fixture that produces the light.

1.

Shielded Lights

With the exception of spotlights and low intensity lights as defined below, all light fixtures shall be fully or partially shielded.

a.

A fully shielded fixture is constructed and installed in such a manner that no light is emitted above a horizontal plane through the lowest part of the lamp, as certified by the lighting manufacturer or a photometric test report.

b.

A partially shielded fixture is constructed and installed in such a manner that less than 2.5% of the light is projected above a horizontal plane through the lowest part of the lamp, as certified by the lighting manufacturer or a photometric test report.

2.

Spotlights

A spotlight concentrates the light into a directed beam aimed in a particular direction. Spotlights are allowed subject to the following:

a.

The light shall be directed only onto the facade of a building or sign on the same lot.

b.

Facades and signs located less than 50 feet from a residential district shall not be illuminated by a spotlight.

c.

The lamp shall be shielded on the rear and sides by a material that fully blocks light. This shield shall extend at least 6 inches in front of the lamp.

d.

The width of the front opening of the light shield shall be no more than the length of the shield.

3.

Low Intensity Lights

Light fixtures with the following characteristics are permitted without cutoff shields:

a.

The lamp(s) housed by the fixture do not emit a total of more than 16,000 lumens for freestanding fixtures, or 10,000 lumens for fixtures attached to structures, based on the manufacturer's lumen rating for the initial light output of the lamp(s).

b.

The lamp is no more than 14 feet above ground level for freestanding fixtures, or 8 feet above ground level for fixtures attached to structures.

c.

For fixtures with shields or other design features to direct the light, the light is not directed toward adjacent properties or public streets.

d.

The surface of either the lamp or the fixture enclosing the lamp is frosted or translucent rather than transparent.

D.

Light Trespass

Light trespass from a property subject to the requirements of this section shall be limited as provided below. Light trespass shall be measured in vertical foot-candles three feet above ground level at the property line.

1.

Light trespass onto a property in the RC, RR, R-ED, R-20, R-12, or R-SC District, or onto a property in the NT, PGCC or MXD Districts designated for development of equivalent land uses and densities, shall be limited to 0.1 foot candles.

2.

Light trespass onto any other property zoned or used for residential purposes shall be limited to 0.5 foot candles.

3.

The light trespass limits shall not apply to land within a public street right-of-way or developed for non-residential uses.

E.

Approval of Alternative Lighting Plans

Designs or locations for light fixtures that do not comply with the requirements of Subsections C and D above but fulfill the purposes of this section may be approved by the Director of Planning and Zoning. A request for such approval may be part of a Site Development Plan submittal, must indicate the type, location, lumen rating and height of the fixture, and must demonstrate how the purposes outlined in Section 134.0.A. will be met. Alternatives that may be approved as meeting the purposes of this section include:

1.

Fixtures that will not be visible at any point along the boundaries of the lot on which they are located due to the location of buildings or walls, topography, or similar visual barriers;

2.

Lighting that will have minimal off-site impact due to the distance of the fixtures from roads and neighboring properties;

3.

Fixtures that incorporate additional shielding or other features to prevent off-site impacts; or

4.

Lighting plans demonstrating other factors that will prevent glare and light spillover.

F.

Exceptions

The following types of lighting are exempt from Section 134.0:

1.

Hazard warning lights required by local, state and federal regulatory agencies.

2.

Temporary emergency lighting for use by fire, police or other emergency service agencies.

G.

Noncomplying Outdoor Lighting

1.

Existing lighting that complied with the requirements in effect at the time it was installed may remain.

2.

When Site Development Plan approval is required for alterations to existing improvements, lighting fixtures on the portion of the site impacted by the alterations must be brought into compliance with Section 134.0 to the extent possible.

3.

When existing lighting is moved or replaced, the installed fixture must comply with the requirements of Section 134.0.