Muskego City Zoning Code
ARTICLE XVIII
Lighting
§ 400-192 Exterior lighting plan required.
Whenever a building, site and operation plan or building, site and operation plan amendment is required by this code, such plans shall include an exterior lighting plan to determine whether the requirements of this article have been met (subject to Plan Commission discretion for unique situations; City General Design Guide also applies).
§ 400-193 Exterior lighting performance standards.
Exterior lighting serves multiple functions, including illumination of obstructions, orientation of site users, and security. To assure that exterior lighting serves these functions without hindrance or nuisance, all exterior lighting plans submitted pursuant to this code shall comply with the following standards: (Note: Standards below are subject to Plan Commission discretion when extenuating circumstances apply.)
A.
Fixture height. Fixtures shall not exceed the greater of 15 feet or the eave line of the building.
B.
Fixture location. All fixtures intended to illuminate parking and drive areas shall generally be mounted on poles located within protected landscaped areas, on concrete pedestals not exceeding six inches above grade. Where the Plan Commission deems that such locations are not practical, and that a location within the parking field is appropriate, said poles may be mounted on concrete pedestals at a height to be determined by the Plan Commission, but generally not exceeding 36 inches above grade.
C.
Luminaires. All exterior lighting fixtures shall be of a wattage approved by the Plan Commission. The types of luminaires shall be subject to the application proposed and Plan Commission approval.
[Amended 2-4-2010 by Ord. No. 1311]
D.
Cutoff required. All luminaires regardless of mounting location shall be housed within downcast full-cutoff fixtures, with zero-degree tilt.
E.
Intensity. Exterior lighting shall generally not exceed nine footcandles in intensity. The Plan Commission may permit a greater intensity of illumination where necessary to meet the purpose of this code.
F.
Light trespass prohibited. In no case shall exterior lighting result in illumination greater than 0.5 footcandle at any property boundary unless the light trespass is on a property with a consistent land use or is along a right-of-way.
[Amended 2-4-2010 by Ord. No. 1311]
G.
No lighting, whether located on the interior or exterior of a window, can be attached to the window or window frame on a commercial or industrial property where the light source can be directly seen from the outside. Also, these window lights cannot be flashing or moving.
[Added 3-18-2020 by Ord. No. 1442]
§ 400-194 Exterior lighting plan elements.
An exterior lighting plan submitted pursuant to this code shall have, at a minimum, the following elements:
A.
A catalog page, cut sheet, or photograph of the luminaire and its mounting method.
B.
A photometric data test report of the proposed luminaire graphically showing the lighting distribution at all angles vertically and horizontally around the luminaire.
C.
A site plan, drawn to the same engineering scale as the building, site and operation plan submittal, indicating the location of the luminaires proposed, mounting and/or installation height in feet, and the overall illumination levels (in footcandles) at the property lines. This may be accomplished either by means of an isolux curve or computer printout projecting the illumination levels. In addition to the site plan drawn to the same engineering scale as the building, site and operation plan submittal, one copy of said plan shall be provided in a black and white reduction, 11 inches by 17 inches.
D.
A graphic depiction of the luminaire lamp (or bulb) concealment and light cutoff angles.
§ 400-195 Exterior lighting for specified outdoor recreation uses.
Ball diamonds, playing fields, driving ranges, tennis courts, and similar outdoor recreation facilities have unique requirements for nighttime visibility and generally have limited hours of operation. Such facilities may be exempt from the performance standards established in this code if the applicant can satisfy the Plan Commission that the following requirements are met:
A.
Building, site and operation plan. The building, site and operation plan meets all other requirements of Article IV of this chapter.
B.
Exterior lighting plan required. A plan meeting the standards of § 400-194 of this code has been submitted.
C.
Exterior light sources. Any exterior light source shall not exceed a maximum pole height of 50 feet, unless the Plan Commission determines a taller pole height would not have a negative impact on the surrounding area.
[Amended 11-17-2021 by Ord. No. 1466]
D.
Shielded luminaires. If the luminaire is shielded in either orientation or by landscaped buffer areas to prevent light and glare spillover to residential property or residential zoning districts, the luminaire may be positioned to exceed a total cutoff angle of 90°.
§ 400-196 Light measurement.
A.
Metering equipment. Lighting levels shall be measured in footcandles with a direct reading portable light meter. The meter shall be read with an accuracy of plus or minus 5%. It shall have been tested, calibrated, and certified by an independent commercial photometric laboratory or the manufacturer within 30 days of its use.
B.
Method of measurement. The meter sensor shall be mounted not more than six inches above ground level in a horizontal position, commencing at the property line. Readings shall be taken only after the cell has been exposed long enough to provide a constant reading. To eliminate the effects of moonlight and other ambient light, measurements shall be made after dark with the light source in question on, then with the same source off. The average of the two readings shall be compared with the maximum permitted illumination permitted by this article.
§ 400-197 Streetlighting.
Streetlighting shall conform to standards promulgated and approved by the Public Works and Safety Committee, as may be amended from time to time.
§ 400-198 Searchlights. [1]
Commercial searchlights as defined by this code shall be prohibited for all uses except as may be directed by authorized emergency management personnel for use related thereto or if approved for special events subject to Plan Commission approval.
§ 400-199 Additional regulations.
The provisions of this article are intended to supplement other applicable laws and ordinances and are not a substitute. All exterior lighting shall be installed in conformance with the provisions of this code, applicable building codes and ordinances, electrical codes and ordinances, and all other codes and ordinances as applicable and under appropriate permit and inspection.