The purpose of this Article is to protect and promote the safety, health and wellbeing, quality of life of Creede residents and visitors and to protect the natural environment, and community resources by establishing the following outdoor lighting standards:
(a) Protect against light pollution;
(b) Promote awareness of the night sky;
(c) Ensure safety for motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists;
(d) Provide assistance for residents changing their lighting fixtures; and
(e) Promote energy efficiency. (Ord. 433 § 1, 2021)
The provisions of this Article shall apply to all exterior lighting within the City of Creede that has not been installed prior to the adoption of this Article. Outdoor lighting that has been installed prior to the adoption of this Article that is not compliant with the provisions of this Article will be considered legally non-conforming. However, property owners with legally nonconforming exterior lighting configurations are encouraged to conform to the outdoor lighting standards within this Article as time, budget, and maintenance allows. (Ord. 433 § 1, 2021)
Correlated color temperature means the associated color depending on the amount of Kelvins (see Kelvin).
Fixture means a complete lighting unit, consisting of a lamp or lamps together with the parts designed to distribute the light, to position and protect the lamps and to connect the lamps to the power. When used, it includes ballasts and photocells.
Full cutoff fixture means a luminaire designed and installed where no light is emitted at or above a horizontal plane running through the lowest point on the fixture.
Fully shielded means a lighting fixture constructed 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 luminaire, is projected below the horizon.
Kelvin means a unit used to determine color temperature, which is the intensity of a light's output and its appearance. The scale for Kelvins is 1,000K - 10,000K.
Lamp means the generic term for an artificial light source, to be distinguished from the whole assembly (see definition of fixture). Commonly referred to as bulb.
Light pollution means any adverse effect of human made light including, but not limited to, light trespass, up lighting, overly bright lighting, the uncomfortable distraction to the eye, or any human made light that diminishes the ability to view the night sky.
Light trespass means light projected across property lines or into the public right-of-way when it is not required or permitted to do so.
Lumen means a unit used to measure the amount of light that is produced by a light source. The lumen qualifies the amount of light energy produced by a lamp at the lamp, not by the energy input, which is indicated by the wattage. One foot-candle means one (1) lumen per square foot of area illuminated.
Luminaire means a light fixture or electrical lighting unit that houses a bulb.
Outdoor lighting means temporary or permanent lighting that is installed, located or used in such a manner to cause light rays to shine outdoors. Fixtures that are indoors that are intended to light something outside are considered outdoor lighting for the purpose of this Article.
Temporary lighting means lighting that is associated with a special event or holiday.
Uplighting means fully shielded lighting that is directed in such a manner as to shine light rays above the horizontal plane. (Ord. 433 § 1, 2021)
(a) General standards.
(1) Exterior lighting. All exterior lighting shall be designed, located, and lamped in accordance with the provisions of this Section in order to prevent or minimize:
a. Energy waste;
b. Glare;
c. Light trespass;
d. Over lighting;
e. Skyglow.
(2) Nonessential lighting. All nonessential exterior commercial, recreational, and residential lighting shall be turned off after business hours and/or when not in use. Lights on a timer are encouraged. Sensor activated lights are encouraged to replace existing lighting that is desired for security purposes.
(3) Canopy lights. Canopy lights, such as service station lighting or covered entries, shall be fully recessed or fully shielded so as to ensure that no light source is visible from or causes glare on public rights-of-way or adjacent properties.
(4) Area lights. All area lights shall use full cutoff type fixtures.
(b) Placement.
(1) Exterior lighting shall be installed in a manner that prevents the light rays and/or illumination from being cast beyond any property boundary.
(c) Illuminance and type.
(1) All outdoor lighting fixtures with an output equal to or greater than five hundred (500) initial lamp lumens shall be a full cutoff fixture and fully shielded with the following exceptions:
a. Luminaires may be partially shielded provided that the lamp is not visible and the luminaire has an opaque top or is under an opaque structure.
b. Floodlights with external shielding shall be angled provided that no light is directed above a twenty-five degree (25°) angle measured from a vertical line from the center of the light extended to the ground.
(2) Outdoor lighting with an output of less than five hundred (500) initial lamp lumens may be left unshielded.
(3) Lighting must be chosen to minimize the amount of short-wavelength light emitted into the nighttime environment. The correlated color temperature (CCT) of lamps shall not exceed three thousand (3,000) Kelvins.
(4) All metal halide and fluorescent fixtures shall be filtered with glass, acrylic or translucent lamp enclosures.
(5) The installation of any mercury vapor fixture or lamp for use as outdoor lighting is prohibited in any new construction or new replacement.
(6) Only high-pressure sodium (HIPS), low pressure sodium (LIPS), LED or incandescent fixtures shall be permitted in commercial and multifamily residential parking areas. (Ord. 433 § 1, 2021)