(a) Purpose. The intent of this section is to focus on the actual physical effects of lighting, as well as the effect that lighting may have on the surrounding neighborhood. Exterior lighting shall be evaluated in the development review process to ensure that the functional and security needs of the project are met in a way that does not adversely affect the adjacent properties or neighborhood. The degree to which exterior night lighting affects a property owner or neighborhood will be examined considering the light source, level of illumination, hours of illumination, and need for illumination in relation to the effects of the lighting on adjacent property owners and the neighborhood.
(b) Applicability.
(1) All residential development consisting of five or more lots or units and all nonresidential development shall submit for approval a proposed exterior lighting plan that meets the functional security needs of the proposed land use without adversely affecting adjacent properties or the community.
(2) All residential development consisting of less than five lots or units shall comply with the standards set forth in this section, but shall not be required to submit a proposed exterior lighting plan for approval.
(3) Non-residential development of less than 5,000 square feet of gross floor area and parking lots or parking lot expansions of less than twenty-five percent or twenty parking spaces whichever is less, is exempt from the lighting levels of Table 1207.14(c) provided each light fixture has a maximum 100 watts for pole heights of sixteen feet or less and a maximum 250 watts for pole heights of sixteen to twenty-five feet.
(4) Unless otherwise expressly exempted, public street lighting installed by the City of Hudson shall comply with the standards set forth in this section. However, proposals to install public street lighting shall not be required to submit a proposed exterior lighting plan for approval.
(5) Exemption for outdoor recreational uses.
A. Because of their unique requirements for nighttime visibility and their limited hours of operation, ball diamonds, playing fields, tennis courts, and other similar outdoor public and commercial recreational uses are exempt from the exterior lighting standards set forth in this section and shall only be required to meet the following standards set forth in this division (b).
B. Limits on cutoff angle: Lighting fixtures shall be mounted and aimed so that their beams fall within the primary playing area and immediate surroundings, and so that no direct illumination is directed offsite. The aiming angle of the light source that illuminates an outdoor recreational use is not to exceed sixty-two degrees from vertical. Luminaries shall use internal louvers and/or exterior shields as necessary to help minimize glare.
C. Maximum permitted illumination at the property line: 0.1 footcandles.
D. Limits on hours of illumination: Exterior lighting for an outdoor recreational use shall be extinguished no later than 11:00 p.m.
(c) Lighting Levels.
(1) With the exception of lighting for public streets, all other lighting used to illuminate buildings, parking lots, walkways, or the landscape, shall be evaluated during the site plan review process. The following "Area/Activity Lighting Criteria" chart gives the lighting criteria to be met for outdoor facilities used at night.
Outdoor Location and Tasks | Horizontal Illumination | Vertical Illumination | Measurement | IESNA Lighting Handbook Ref. |
Building Exteriors | (footcandles) |
Outdoor Location and Tasks | Horizontal Illumination | Vertical Illumination | Measurement | IESNA Lighting Handbook Ref. |
Building Exteriors | (footcandles) | |||
Entrances: | ||||
Active (pedestrian/ conveyance) | 5.0 | 3.0 | Average fc | Lighting Design Guide |
Inactive (normally locked, infrequent use) | 3.0 | 3.0 | Average fc | Lighting Design Guide |
Floodlighting | 3.5 | Average fc | Figure 21-12 | |
Loading Platforms | 10.0 | 3.0 | Average fc | Lighting Design Guide |
Outdoor Recreational Areas | See IESNA Lighting Handbook, Chapter 20 - Sports and Recreational Area Lighting | |||
Parks, Plazas, and Pedestrian Malls | 5.0 | 3.0 | Average fc | Lighting Design Guide |
Parking Areas | Uniformity ratio | |||
Parking Lots (open) | 5.0 max./0.2 min. | 2.0 max./0.1 min. | 30:1 max./min. | Figure 22-21 |
Pool Areas and Terraces | 5.0 | 3.0 | Average fc | Lighting Design Guide |
Retail Spaces | ||||
Car dealerships - front row | 5.0 | 3.0 | Average fc | Figure 17-18 |
Restaurants and dining areas | 5.0 | 3.0 | Average fc | Lighting Design Guide |
Service stations: | ||||
Approach | 1.5 | 0.5 | Average fc | Chapter 17 |
Driveway | 2.0 average with | 0.5 | Average fc and | Chapter 17 |
20:1 max./min. uniformity ratio | uniformity ratio | |||
Pump island area under canopy | 15.0 | 10.0 | Average fc | Chapter 17 |
Building faces (exclusive of glass) | NA | 3.0 | Average fc | Chapter 17 |
Service areas | 3.0 | 3.0 | Average fc | Chapter 17 |
Security Lighting | See IESNA Lighting Handbook, Chapter 29 - Security Lighting | Figure 29-17 | ||
Signs | 3.0 | 10.0 | Average fc | Lighting Design Guide |
Walkways and Stairways | 0.5 | 0.1 | minimum average fc | Figure 22-10 |
Source: Illuminating Engineering Society (IES), Lighting Handbook (2000, as revised)
(2) All other illuminance shall not exceed the Lighting Handbook (Illumination Engineering Society (IES) 1987, as amended) recommendations; and
(3) The amount of nuisance glare (light trespass) projected onto a residential use from another property shall not exceed 0.1 vertical footcandles at the property line.
(d) Design Standards. All exterior lighting, including public street lighting as applicable, shall meet the following design standards:
(1) No flickering or flashing lights shall be permitted, except for temporary holiday decorations.
(2) Background spaces like parking lots shall be illuminated as unobtrusively as possible to meet the functional needs of safe circulation and protection of people and property. Foreground spaces, such as building entrances and outside seating areas, shall utilize local lighting that defines the space without glare. All lighting installations must comply with the Area/Activity Lighting Criteria published in division (c) of this section of the Exterior Lighting Code unless specifically approved by the Planning Commission.
(3) Glare shall be controlled at all times through proper equipment selection, careful aiming, and limits on brightness as per IESNA recommendations:
A. Full cutoff, cutoff, or semi-cutoff light fixtures shall direct light toward the ground as per IESNA classifications. The light source shall not be visible from the property line.
B. Non-cutoff light fixtures shall limit the maximum initial lumens generated by each fixture not to exceed 2,000 lumens.
C. Building facade lighting shall be located, aimed and shielded to direct light only onto the building facade.
(4) The style of light standards and fixtures shall be consistent with the style and character of architecture proposed on the site.
(5) All outdoor light not necessary for security purposes shall be reduced, activated by motion sensors devices, or turned off during non-operating hours.
(6) Light fixtures used to illuminate flags, statues, or any other objects mounted on a pole, pedestal, or platform shall use a narrow cone beam or light that will not extend beyond the illuminated object.
(7) For upward-directed architectural, landscape, and decorative lighting, direct light emissions shall not be visible above the building line roof.
(8) All light sources must have a minimum color rendering index (CRI) of twenty-two.
(e) Height Standards for Lighting.
(1) In Zone Districts 1, 2, 3, 4, and 10, light fixtures shall be mounted on concrete or painted metal poles no higher than sixteen feet.
(2) In Zone Districts 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, light fixtures shall be mounted on concrete or painted metal poles no higher than twenty-five feet.
(Ord. 18-93. Passed 10-15-19.)