(a) Intent. The intent of this Section is to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public by recognizing that buildings and sites need to be illuminated for safety, security, and visibility for pedestrians and motorists. To do so, this Section provides standards for various forms of lighting that will: minimize light pollution and light trespass (i.e. "sky glow"), minimize the intrusion of excess lighting levels into residential neighborhoods, conserve electrical energy, and curtail the degradation of the nighttime visual environment.
(b) Exterior Lighting From Direct Sources. Subject to the provisions set forth herein, all parking areas, walkways, driveways, building entryways, off-street parking and loading areas and building complexes with common areas, shall be sufficiently illuminated to ensure the security of property and the safety of persons using such public or common areas. Additionally, the following standards shall apply:
(1) Only non-glare, color-corrected lighting (such as metal halide fixtures) shall be permitted to maintain a unified lighting standard throughout the City and prevent "sky glow".
(2) Lighting shall utilize full cut-off shielding to prevent the lamp from extending beyond the light fixture, and the illumination shall be downward directed to prevent off-site glare.
(3) Light intensity shall not exceed one (1) foot- candle when measured at the property line and five (5) feet above grade. However, light intensity shall not exceed 0.3 foot-candles when measured at the property line and five (5) feet above grade if the property abuts a residentially zoned and/or used parcel.
(4) Running, chasing or otherwise intermittent lighting shall be prohibited. However, this shall not be considered to include LED type lighting when permitted as a part of a sign (see Article 7).
(5) Lighting fixtures shall not exceed a height of twenty-five (25) feet or twenty (20) feet when adjacent to areas zoned and/or used for residential purposes. However, the Planning Commission and/or Zoning Administrator may consider increased height when all other ordinance provisions are satisfied.
(6) All lighting, including ornamental lighting, shall be shown on site plans in sufficient detail to allow determination of the effects of such lighting upon adjacent properties and traffic safety.
(7) The Planning Commission may require decorative light fixtures as an alternative to shielded fixtures where it will be compatible with the traditional City character of the surrounding area. In this case, it must be proven that there will be no offsite glare.
(8) All outdoor lighting installed and maintained upon private property within any non-residential district shall be turned off between 11:00 p.m. and sunrise. However, for uses that continue after 11:00 p.m., the lights shall be dimmed to a level necessary for security purposes only. The modified level shall be at the discretion of the Zoning Administrator while input may be sought from the Planning Commission.
(c) Light and Glare From Indirect Sources.
(1) Glare from any process (such as or similar to arc welding or acetylene torch cutting) which emits harmful ultraviolet rays shall be performed in such a manner as not to be seen from any point beyond the property line, and as not to create a public nuisance or hazard along lot lines.
(2) The design and/or screening of the development shall ensure that glare from automobile and commercial or industrial vehicle headlights shall not be directed into any adjacent property, particularly residential property.
(3) Exterior doors shall be located, operated and maintained so as to prevent any glare and light from creating a nuisance or safety hazard to operators of motor vehicles, pedestrians, and neighboring land uses.
(d) Prohibited Lighting Elements.
(1) The internal illumination of translucent building-mounted canopies/awnings.
(2) Indirect illumination of buildings and signs that utilize halogen bulbs in excess of 120-watts (1800 lumens) or compact fluorescent bulbs in excess of 42 watts (3200 lumens).
(3) The use of laser light sources, searchlights, or any similar high intensity light for outdoor advertisement or entertainment.
(4) Luminous tube and exposed bulb fluorescent lighting.
(e) Exemptions. The following are exempt from the lighting requirements of this Section, except that the Zoning Administrator may take steps to eliminate the impact of the exempted items when deemed necessary to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public:
(1) Holiday decorations
(2) Window displays without glare
(3) Shielded pedestrian walkway lighting
(4) Residential lighting with no off-site glare
(f) Submittal Requirements. The following information must be included for all site plan submissions and where site plan approval is not required, some or all of the items may be required at the discretion of the Zoning Administrator prior to lighting installation:
(1) Location of all freestanding, building-mounted, and canopy light fixtures on the site plan and building elevations.
(2) Photometric grid overlaid on the proposed site plan indicating the overall light intensity throughout the site (in foot-candles).
(3) Specifications and details for the type of fixture being proposed, including the total lumen output, type of lamp, and method of shielding.
(4) Any other information deemed necessary by the Zoning Administrator to determine compliance with provisions of this Article.