For the purpose of this subchapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
CLASS 1 LIGHTING. All outdoor lighting used for but not limited to outdoor sales or eating areas, assembly or repair areas, advertising and other signs, recreational facilities and other similar applications where color rendition is important to preserve the effectiveness of the activity.
CLASS 2 LIGHTING. All outdoor lighting used for but not limited to illumination for walkways, roadways, equipment yards, parking lots and outdoor security where general illumination of the grounds is the primary concern.
CLASS 3 LIGHTING. Any outdoor lighting used for decorative effects, including but not limited to architectural illumination, flag monument lighting, and illumination of trees, bushes and the like.
DEVELOPMENT PROJECT. Any residential, commercial, industrial or mixed use subdivision plan or individual building development or remodeling plan, which is submitted to the town for approval.
DIRECT ILLUMINATION. Illumination resulting from light emitted directly from a lamp, luminaire or reflector, not light diffused through translucent signs or reflected from other surfaces such as the ground or building faces.
FOOT-CANDLE (FC). A unit of measure used to specify illuminate; how much light is falling per square foot onto a surface. One FOOT-CANDLE of illumination arises when one lumen is spread onto one square foot of surface. It is the luminous flux per unit area in the Imperial system. One FOOT-CANDLE equals approximately ten lux.
FULLY SHIELDED FIXTURE. Fixtures are shielded in such a manner that light rays emitted by the fixture, either directly from the lamp or indirectly from the fixture, are projected below the horizontal from the lowest point of the bulb within the fixture.
(1) A practical working way to determine if a fixture or tube is fully shielded: if the lamp or tube, any reflective surface, or lens cover (clear or prismatic) is visible when viewed from above or directly from the side, from any angle around the fixture or tube, the fixture or tube is not fully shielded.
(2) Examples of fixtures that are fully shielded (to be fully shielded these fixtures must be closed on top and mounted such that the bottom opening is horizontal):
(3) Examples of fixtures that are not fully shielded:
(a) *Note: even though the lamp in these fixtures is shielded from direct view when viewed from the side or above, reflective surfaces within the fixture and or lens covers are directly visible from the side.
(b) Note for luminous (neon) tubes: when such lighting is installed under or behind a roof overhang, if the roof line or eave is not horizontal, the tubing may be visible from above when viewed from the side and therefore be unshielded.
GLARE. The sensation produced by a bright source within the visual field that is sufficiently brighter than the level to which the eyes are adapted to cause annoyance, discomfort or loss of visual performance and visibility; blinding light; GLARE and blinding light may be dangerous to the public health and safety, as they may contribute to vehicular or other accidents. The magnitude of GLARE depends on such factors as the size, position, brightness of the source, and the brightness level to which the eye is adapted.
INSTALLED. Attached, or fixed in place, whether or not connected to a power source.
LIGHT POLLUTION. Any adverse effect of man-made light.
LIGHT TRESPASS. Spill light falling over property lines that illuminates adjacent grounds or buildings. Direct illumination shall be confined to the property boundaries of the source.
LUMEN. The unit used to measure the actual amount of visible light, which is produced by a lamp as defined by the manufacturer. For purposes of determining compliance with this subchapter, initial (not "maintained" or "mean") LUMEN outputs of lamps (not fixtures) are the values to be considered. Examples of LUMEN output of typical generic incandescent bulbs (W= Watt and L= Lumen): 60 W = 840 L, 75 W = 1,125 L, 100 W = 1,600 L, 150 W = 2,780 L, 300 W = 4,620 L.
LUMINAIRE. The complete lighting assembly, less the support assembly; a light fixture.
MULTI-CLASS LIGHTING. Any outdoor lighting used for more than one purpose, such as security and decoration, when those purposes fall under the definitions for two or more lighting classes as defined for Class 1, 2 and 3 Lighting above.
MOTION SENSING SECURITY LIGHTING. A fixture designed, and properly adjusted, to illuminate an area around a residence or other building by means of the automatic switching on a lamp when motion is detected inside the area or perimeter, and automatic switching of the lamp off when the detected motion ceases.
NEON LIGHTING. Lighting using luminous gas-filled tubes often formed into text, symbols or decorative elements. NEON LIGHTING includes tubes with typical diameters of 10 to 20 millimeters filled with neon, argon, xenon or other gasses and producing various colors of light. Not included are replaceable fluorescent tubes.
NET ACREAGE. The remaining ground area of a parcel after deleting all portions for proposed and existing public rights-of-way and undeveloped area.
OUTDOOR LIGHT FIXTURES. All outdoor illuminating devices, reflective surfaces, lamps and other devices, either permanently installed or portable, which are used for illumination or advertisement. Such devices shall include but are not limited to search, spot and floodlights for:
(1) Buildings and structures;
(2) Recreational areas;
(3) Parking lot lighting;
(4) Landscape and architectural lighting;
(5) Billboards and other signs (advertising or other);
(6) Street lighting;
(7) Product display area lighting;
(8) Building overhangs and open canopies;
(9) Security lighting; and
(10) Pedestrian areas or walkways.
OUTDOOR RECREATION FACILITY. An area designed for active recreation, whether publicly or privately owned, including but not limited to parks, baseball and softball diamonds, soccer and football fields, golf courses, tennis courts, roping/equestrian activities and swimming pools.
PERSON. Includes a corporation, company, partnership, firm, association or society, as well as a natural person.
SECURITY LIGHTING. Lighting designed to illuminate a property or grounds for the purpose of visual security. This includes fully shielded lighting designed to remain on during nighttime hours in the absence of business activity as well as motion sensing lighting fixtures.
STREET LIGHTING. Lighting installed by or at the direction of the town or other governmental agency to illuminate public roadways.
TEMPORARY LIGHTING. Lighting which does not conform to the provisions of this chapter and which will not be used for more than one 30-day period within a calendar year. TEMPORARY LIGHTING is intended for uses which by their nature are of limited duration, e.g., business grand openings or special civic event. Road and construction projects are excluded.
TOTAL OUTDOOR LIGHT OUTPUT. The maximum total amount of light, measured in lumens, from all lamps used in outdoor light fixtures on a property. For lamp types that vary in their output as they age (such as high pressure sodium and metal halide), the initial output, as defined by the manufacturer, is the value to be considered. Includes lighting from all area lighting fixtures, external sign illumination and decorative (non-sign) neon tubes, but does not include lighting used for permitted internally illuminated signs. Also does not include interior lighting; provided, however, the lighting is directed and or shielded in such a manner that it will not project primarily outside the building or create glare or light trespass. Lighting used under service station canopies is included toward the total output at 25% of the rated output of the lamps (see § 153.152(D)(4)(d)). Street lighting is exempt from total lumen count.
UNSHIELDED FIXTURE. An outdoor light fixture that allows light to be emitted above the horizontal direction from the lowest point of the bulb within the fixture.
WATT. The unit used to measure the electrical power consumption (not the light output) of a lamp.
(Ord. § 603(B), passed 9-4-2008)