This Section is intended to improve the nighttime lighting environment for residents, visitors, pedestrians, and drivers by addressing the specific problems of unnecessarily increased light levels, light trespass, glare, and sky glow.

(Ord. No. 751, § 1, 11-13-2019)

(a)

Conformance required.

(1)

Conformance with this Section is required for all outdoor lights on a property when a new zoning development permit is issued for a building on that property, regardless of whether new construction would impact all lights on the property.

(2)

These provisions apply in all zoning districts.

(b)

Exceptions. These provisions apply to all outdoor lighting except:

(1)

Emergency lighting,

(2)

Temporary lighting including holiday or seasonal lighting,

(3)

Vehicular lighting,

(4)

Niche manufacturing, and

(5)

Lighting on wheeled farm machines.

(Ord. No. 751, § 1, 11-13-2019)

(a)

Lighting direction.

(1)

All outdoor lighting must be directed downward or toward a surface and shielded from adjacent properties and residential uses.

(2)

Except for approved street lighting, outdoor lighting may not be directed towards any public street.

(b)

Cutoff fixtures. Light fixtures shall be either Dark Sky cutoff fixtures or shall have a Dark Sky shade or a Dark Sky shield.

(Ord. No. 751, § 1, 11-13-2019)

The following standards for outdoor lighting must be met:

(1)

Switch or sensor. Every new fixture installed must include a manual on and off switch or either a motion or daylight sensor that automatically turns it on and off.

(2)

Security lighting. Security lighting is permitted to discourage crime and undesirable activity. Where security lighting is needed, motion sensors that automatically turn it on when motion is detected, photocell/timer combinations, or similar technologies to activate lighting during times when it will be needed, are encouraged to provide safety, conserve energy, and promote compatibility among different land uses.

(3)

Architectural lighting.

a.

Fixtures used to accent architectural features, materials, colors, or style of building must be located, aimed, and shielded so that light is directed only on those features being highlighted.

b.

Rope/strand lighting may be used as an architectural feature but must be placed so that it is shielded from shining directly upward, except for temporary lighting during the winter holiday season.

c.

The width of linear lighting, such as fluorescent awnings, illuminated bands, and similar must be less than two (2) inches.

(4)

Street lighting. Street lighting must be shielded by either full cutoff, cutoff, or semi-cutoff fixtures, or a combination of these types. Cutoff and semi-cutoff shields may be used at intersections or other locations where a larger area of light spread is preferred due to safety reasons.

(e)

Prohibited Lighting. The following types of outdoor lights are prohibited:

a.

Roof lights: Light sources shall not be affixed to the top of a roof unless required by the building code.

b.

Unshielded light sources and uplighting: Unshielded light sources resulting in light that shines in an upward direction.

c.

Search light, aerial lasers, and spotlights: Search lights, aerial lasers, and spotlights are prohibited except as otherwise indicated in this Article. Shielded spotlights may be used in loading zones during loading and unloading operations.

d.

Nuisance lights: Lights that flash, move, revolve, blink, flicker, vary in intensity, change color or use intermittent electrical pulsation, or lighting that can be found to be obtrusive to neighboring properties are considered nuisance lighting and are prohibited. Holiday and seasonal lights are permitted and are exempt from this category.

e.

Neon lights.

f.

Sodium vapor and similar high intensity light sources.

g.

Linear architectural lighting: Linear architectural lighting that is two (2) inches or more in width and façade lighting primarily intended to be an attention-gaining device.

(Ord. No. 751, § 1, 11-13-2019)

Any nonconforming outdoor light fixture(s) that was installed prior to October 1, 2010 shall be brought into compliance with light fixture(s) that conform to this Article 16-12 as follows:

(1)

Functioning fixture. A fixture that is in good repair may continue to be used until October 1, 2020, or

(2)

Development permit. If a zoning development permit is issued for a property with nonconforming fixtures, the nonconforming fixtures shall be brought into compliance as a condition of permit approval. For the purposes of this Section, the zoning development permit can be requested or issued for any aspect of development on the site; it does not need to be specifically related to lighting or light fixtures.

(Ord. No. 751, § 1, 11-13-2019)