A. General.
1. Purpose and Intent. The purpose of this section is to promote harmony with nature and a pleasant and comprehensible cohesiveness among development within the city. Through enforcement of the community design, the local elected officials shall determine the basic aesthetic character to be achieved in the development of the community.
2. Administration. The Director of Planning and Zoning shall coordinate, interpret, and administer this section.
3. Relief from Standards. Any deviation or variation from the regulations of this section requires the approval of a community design appeal (CDPA) in accordance with Chapter 2, Article II, Section 4.B.
B. Buildings and Structures. The following regulations shall apply to all new development and redevelopment:
1. Generally.
a. Lighting fixture height, style, design and illumination level shall be compatible with the building design and height and shall consider safety, function and aesthetic value;
b. Lighting of the exterior, parking areas, and watercraft docking facilities shall be of the lowest intensity and energy use adequate for its purpose, and shall not create conditions of glare that extend onto abutting properties;
c. Feature lighting emphasizing plants, trees, barriers, entrances, and exits is encouraged;
d. Lighting may be used to illuminate a building and its grounds for safety purposes and to enhance its beauty. However, the visual effect shall be subtle;
e. Lighting shall not be used as a form of advertising in a manner that draws more attention to the building or grounds at night than in the day; and
f. Lighting attached to the form of the exterior of the building or part of the building exterior or visible from the exterior of the building shall not be permitted if it is contrary to the architectural style of the building.
C. Maximum Footcandle and Illumination Levels. Permanent off-street lighting levels for all multiple-family residential and non-residential uses shall not exceed five and nine-tenths (5.9) footcandles for any spot location reading, excluding those areas where higher lighting levels are required for automated teller machines (ATM) or as identified in crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED).
D. Pole (Total Overall) Heights in Relation to Building Height. It is the intent of this subsection to regulate the maximum allowable height of outdoor free-standing lighting poles in order to encourage compatibility between said poles and heights of principal buildings on-site and on adjacent properties.
The maximum height for all outdoor free-standing lighting poles of a project or development shall not exceed the average roofline of a one (1)-story structure. In no instance shall an outdoor free-standing lighting pole exceed twenty-five (25) feet in height unless the height limitation is found to be incompatible with guidelines and/or recommendations of an adopted redevelopment plan or other public works project.
(Ord. 10-025, passed 12-7-10; Am. Ord. 13-020, passed 7-2-13)