The purpose of this chapter is to:

A.

ensure that all site lighting is designed and installed to maintain safe and adequate levels on-site;

B.

prevent excessive light spillage and glare directed at adjacent properties, neighboring areas, and motorists;

C.

to minimize light pollution in the night sky; and

D.

provide security for people, buildings, and land.

The provisions of this chapter apply to all non-residential uses and multi-family, attached single-family, senior housing, and convalescent or nursing home uses.

A.

Requirements for All Property.

1.

Limitations. Light shall be confined on-site by the direction of the fixture, shielding, and/or adjustment of the brightness level.

2.

Glare. Lighting shall not be directed in any manner which causes glare onto neighboring residential property or distraction to drivers.

3.

Direction. All outdoor lighting, except ground lights that illuminate flags and lights that are incorporated as architectural accent features of a building approved by the site plan reviewer, shall be directed down or onto the object being illuminated. Flag and building lighting shall be placed so that lighting or glare is not directed toward streets or adjacent properties, and fixtures shall be located, aimed, or shielded to minimize light spilling into the night sky.

4.

Prohibited light sources. The following light sources are prohibited:

a.

Laser source. The use of laser source light or any similar high-intensity light for outdoor advertising or entertainment is prohibited.

b.

Searchlights. The operation of searchlights for promotional purposes is prohibited.

c.

Flashing lights. Except for motion-activated security lighting and temporary holiday lighting, permanent lights that flash, move, revolve, rotate, scintillate, blink, flicker, vary in intensity or color, or use intermittent electrical pulsation are prohibited.

d.

Public safety. Lighting that is similar to that used for traffic control devices or emergency vehicles is prohibited.

B.

Outdoor Light Fixtures. All outdoor fixtures including building mounted fixtures, shall be full cut-off fixtures as defined by the Illumination Engineering Society of North America (IESNA) except those exempted under Section 13.8. The intensity of the light emitted from the fixture at any angle above a full cut-off angle of 80 degrees from the vertical must be less than 10 percent of the total lamp lumens of the outdoor light fixture.

C.

Parking Lot and Access Drive Lighting.

1.

Parking lot lighting shall be designed to provide the minimum lighting necessary to ensure adequate vision and comfort and not to cause glare or direct illumination on to adjacent properties or streets.

2.

All lighting fixtures serving parking lots shall be full cut-off fixtures as defined by IESNA's Lighting Handbook.

3.

Mounting heights of standard full cut-off fixtures shall not exceed the limits specified in Table 13-5.

4.

The use of fixtures from a particular period or architectural style may be utilized as either alternatives or supplements to the lighting described above. Mounting heights of such alternative fixtures shall not exceed 15 feet.

5.

The level of light trespass onto surrounding properties or roads shall not exceed 0.01 foot-candles. This shall be measured as specified in Section 13.4.B.

D.

Canopy Lighting.

1.

Light fixtures mounted in canopies shall be recessed so the lens cover does not protrude below the bottom surface (ceiling) of the canopy.

2.

As an alternative to recessed ceiling lights in a canopy, indirect lighting may be used where light is beamed upward and then reflected down from the underside of the canopy. In this case light fixtures must be shielded so that direct illumination is focused exclusively on the underside of the canopy.

3.

Lights shall not be mounted on the top or sides (fascia) of the canopy, and the sides of the canopy shall not be illuminated, except as may be permitted for vehicle service stations in accordance with Section 9.3 FF.

4.

The level of light trespass onto surrounding properties or roads shall not exceed 0.01 foot-candles. This shall be measured as specified in Section 13.4.B.

E.

Security Lighting. All security lighting fixtures shall be aimed so that illumination is directed only to designated areas and shall include shields that prevent the light source or lens from being visible from adjacent properties and roadways. In no case shall lighting be directed above a horizontal plane through the top of the lighting fixture. The use of general floodlighting fixtures shall be prohibited.

F.

Illumination of Building Facades, Flags, and Landscaping. When buildings and structures including flags mounted on poles or on buildings are to be illuminated, a design for the illumination shall be subject to approval by the site plan reviewer and the following shall apply:

1.

Maximum illumination on any surface shall not exceed 4.0 foot-candles.

2.

Lighting fixtures shall be located, aimed, and shielded so that light is directed only onto the item being illuminated and not directed skyward. Lighting fixtures shall not be directed toward adjacent streets, roads, or properties.

3.

Lighting fixtures mounted on the building and designed to "wash" the facade with light are preferred.

4.

The illumination of landscaping shall not generate excessive light levels, cause glare, or direct light beyond the landscaping.

5.

The level of light trespass onto surrounding properties or roads shall not exceed 0.01 foot-candles. This shall be measured as specified in Section 13.4.B.

G.

Night Lighting. Outdoor fixtures for off-street parking lots or building facades which face or abut a residential zone or residential use shall be turned off between 11:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. except for lights which are necessary for security purposes or if the use is in operation during these hours.

H.

Definition of Terms. Lighting terms used in this chapter shall have the same meaning as set forth in the IESNA's Lighting Handbook.

A.

Submittal Requirements. Compliance with the lighting design criteria shall be demonstrated by submitting the following information as part of a required site plan:

1.

Lighting plan (as part of the site plan package) showing light fixture locations.

2.

Fixture mounting height(s).

3.

Type and number of lighting fixtures.

4.

Lamp source type (bulb type, i.e. high-pressure sodium, LED, etc.), lumen output, color temperature, and wattage.

5.

Lighting manufacturer-supplied specifications (cut sheets) that include photographs or illustrations of the fixture(s), indicating the certified full cut-off characteristics or backlight, uplight, glare (B.U.G.) rating of the fixture or demonstration that the fixture is fully shielded.

B.

Photometric Plans. A photometric plan is required for all parking areas. The site plan reviewer may require a photometric plan for other areas illuminated on a site to ensure that the intent and requirements of this section are met. Photometric plans shall include the following:

1.

Maximum illuminance levels expressed in ground-level footcandle measurements on a grid of the site showing footcandle readings in every five or 10-foot square.

2.

The grid shall include light contributions from all sources (i.e. pole-mounted, wall-mounted, sign, and street lights).

3.

Footcandle measurements shall be shown five feet beyond the property lines.

4.

A calculation summary indicating footcandle levels on the lighting plan, noting the maximum, average, and minimum, as well as the uniformity ratio of maximum to minimum, and average to minimum levels. Average footcandles shall only be calculated within the parking spaces and drive aisles and shall exclude other illuminated areas of the site.

A.

Fixture Type. Lighting fixtures for non-residential and multi-family and group residential uses shall be a down-lighted type and full cut-off and shall not allow light to be emitted above the fixture. For LED lighting, up-light shall be zero (0) for B.U.G. ratings. Fixtures shall comply with the following requirements:

1.

A full cut-off fixture shall have no direct uplight and shall reduce glare by limiting the light output to less than 10 percent at and below 10 degrees below the horizontal.

2.

If the applicant cannot provide manufacturer confirmation of full cut-off characteristics of light fixtures, the fixture shall be fully shielded, which will be determined by visual inspection of the fixture or a specification sheet. Fully shielded light fixtures are constructed and installed in such a manner that all light emitted by the fixture, either directly from the lamp or a diffusing element or indirectly by reflection or refraction from any part of the fixture, is projected below the horizontal.

B.

Setbacks. Light fixtures shall be no closer than six feet from property lines but shall not be placed in any buffer area required by Section 12.5.

C.

Mounting Height. Light fixture mounting heights shall not exceed the following:

A.

Required Lighting.

1.

All parking lots shall be illuminated for customer and resident safety.

2.

Lighting shall be provided throughout all parking lots. Lights to illuminate parking lots shall not be attached to any building except for illuminating parking spaces that are within 10 feet of building walls.

B.

Illumination Levels. Light levels on a lot or parcel that is subject to site plan approval under this ordinance shall meet the applicable requirements in Table 13-6 for the developed portion of the site.

C.

Light Reduction. As a condition of site plan approval, reduction of lighting during non-business hours shall be required in accordance with Section 13.3.G. The term "non-business" shall include institutional uses such as schools and places of public worship within Residential Districts.

A.

Authority. The site plan reviewer may modify the illumination requirements in Table 13-6 and other lighting requirements based on a review of the applicant's proposal against industry standards and advanced lighting technology, so long as lighting plans ensure safe conditions and minimize the impact on adjacent properties.

B.

Considerations. The site plan reviewer shall consider the following during the review of lighting modification requests:

1.

the area of the site to be lit;

2.

existing lighting on the site and on adjacent properties;

3.

the type of use and size of development on the site;

4.

the presence of natural screening;

5.

the potential lighting impact, including light spillover or glare, onto existing and future adjacent land uses;

6.

the effect that the required lighting would have on the operation of the existing or future land use; and

7.

security needs related to the use.

The following outdoor light fixtures are exempt from the provisions of this ordinance:

A.

Outdoor light fixtures installed prior to the effective date of this ordinance are exempt from its provisions; provided, any change, replacement, structural alteration, or restoration of any such outdoor fixtures shall comply with all provisions of this ordinance.

B.

Fossil fuel light produced directly or indirectly by the combustion of natural gas or other utility type fuels.

C.

Street lights located within a public right-of-way.

D.

Outdoor light fixtures which use an incandescent light bulb of 150 watts or less except where they create a hazard or nuisance from glare or spill light.

E.

Lighting used in conjunction with road or utility construction projects or emergencies.

F.

Motion sensitive security lighting.