(A) Purpose and intent. The purpose of these exterior lighting standards is to provide minimum outdoor lighting standards that protect the public safety and the general welfare of the community by reducing unsafe and unpleasant lighting conditions, such as light trespass and light pollution, while also promoting the safe and efficient movement of vehicles and pedestrians and the security of local properties.
(B) General requirements. All exterior lighting shall comply with the following requirements:
(1) Mounting height measurement. For the purposes of this section, the mounting height of all light fixtures shall be defined as the vertical distance between the grade level of the surface being illuminated and the top of the lighting fixture (luminaire).
(2) Use of timers/dimmers. Wherever practicable, exterior lighting shall include timers, dimmers, and/or sensors to reduce overall energy consumption and eliminate unnecessary lighting.
(3) Electrical service. The electrical service to all outdoor lighting fixtures shall be underground, unless the fixtures are mounted directly on buildings or utility poles.
(4) Holiday lighting. Holiday lighting shall be exempt from the provisions of this section.
(5) Light trespass. Light trespass into the night sky and onto neighboring properties shall be prevented through the use of such techniques as horizontally mounted lamps with reflectors, glass, polycarbonate or acrylic refractors, louvered optics, and house-side shields.
(C) Residential street lights. Street lighting within any residential development shall comply with the following design criteria or its equivalent as determined by the Board of Zoning Appeals or Plan Commission:
(1) The street lighting shall be adequate to light all road intersections, curves, cul-de-sacs, and entrances into and within a development.
(2) Lighting units which shall include a pole, luminaire, and all other necessary parts and equipment, shall be placed at a minimum of every 200 to 250 feet on property lines staggered on opposite sides of the street and at intersections, curves, cul-de-sacs, and entrances to any development.
(3) The lighting as described above shall be placed away from the street on the backside of the curb a minimum of one and one-half feet. In the event that there is not a curb, the lighting shall be placed one and one-half feet off of the road side of the sidewalk or multi-use path.
(4) Lighting shall consist of all utility quality columns and fixtures and photovoltaic devices conforming to ANSI standard C136.10.
(5) The light fixture column shall comply with Appendix C, Lighting Drawings. Equal fixture shall be considered by the Plan Commission during the development plan process.
(6) Light column foundations shall extend no more than four inches above finish grade and shall be installed in accordance to the specifications of Chapter 154, Appendix C.
(7) Luminaire light source shall be composed of high power LEDs, or Light Emitting Diodes. Refer to Chapter 154, Appendix C, Lighting Drawings.
(8) All equipment, including but not limited to the light column, luminaire and additional fixtures shall remain the property of the developer, property owner, or the homeowners association who shall be responsible for all of the maintenance of the equipment as well as all operational cost of the equipment.
(9) Record drawings shall be provided in digital format to the Town Manager upon completion of installation of the lighting system, said format to use the Auto-Cad software program or its approved equivalent.
(10) If the development is an apartment complex, condominium or other form of multi-living arrangement, the same requirements as set forth above shall apply in addition to which the lighting fixtures at the entrances shall be 5.0 foot-candles, the lighting around parking and building areas shall be 1.0 foot-candles, and shall in all respects comply to the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) Lighting Handbook.
(11) For all projects, a photometric map indicating the distribution and foot-candles of all proposed lighting shall be supplied to the Administrative Officer prior to installation.
(12) At the time a subdivision or development is transferred from the builder/developer to the HOA, the street lights and all their components shall be owned fee simple. Street light leases may not be transferred to an HOA.
(D) Non-residential street lights. All standards set forth in division (C), Residential Street Lights, above shall apply where not in direct conflict with those additional criteria set forth below. In the event that one or more of the following criteria conflicts with the criteria set forth in division (C), the more restrictive standard shall apply.
(1) Street lighting shall be installed every 125 feet on center, directly across the street from existing or planned street lights, in all new developments through the incorporated town on CR 600 W and on Broadway. Refer to § 154.091, Highway Corridor Overlay District, of this chapter. Additionally, a streetlight shall be installed at all intersections along the perimeter of proposed development project. The type of streetlight to be installed shall be determined by the Town Engineer.
(2) For commercial uses along arterial roads, the illumination shall be 1.2 foot-candles, for collector street locations 0.8 foot-candles, and for local street locations 0.6 foot-candles.
(3) All lighting shall be consistent with Chapter 154, Appendix C, Lighting Drawings.
(4) All fixtures shall be mounted on standards or columns as specified in division (C)(5) above, not to exceed 30 feet in height. Lighting fixture, standards or columns shall be mounted in an approved concrete foundation in compliance with specifications by the State of Indiana.
(E) Illuminated canopy requirements. Lighting levels under canopies for gas stations, convenience stores, drive-up banking centers, and similar locations shall be adequate to facilitate the activities taking place on the property, and shall not be used for the purpose of illuminating signs. Such lighting shall be in compliance with the following requirements:
(1) Lighting fixtures. Lighting fixtures on canopies shall comply with either of the following requirements:
(a) All light fixtures mounted on the canopies shall be recessed so that the lens cover is recessed or flush with the bottom surface (ceiling) of the canopy, or
(b) The lighting of the canopy shall use indirect lighting through which light is beamed upward and then reflected down from the underside of the canopy by light fixtures that are shielded so that illumination is focused exclusively on the underside of the canopy.
(2) Fixture location. Lights shall not be mounted on the top or sides of any canopy and the sides of the canopy shall not be illuminated. In no instances shall this be interpreted as prohibiting the placement of signs on the canopy which are illuminated consistent with the standards for sign illumination in this section.
(F) Lighting of outdoor athletic/performance facilities. Lighting for all outdoor athletic and performance facilities and events shall provide adequate light for the event or facility while minimizing light pollution and the illumination of adjacent streets and properties.
(1) Play/performance area lighting. Lighting fixtures for the playing fields and/or performance areas shall be specifically mounted and aimed so that their beams fall directly within the play/performance area and its immediate surroundings and does not spill onto adjacent streets or properties.
(2) Dual lighting system. The use of spotlights and/or floodlights to illuminate the play/performance area shall be permitted. However, each facility shall be designed and constructed with a dual lighting system which permits the main lighting for the event (spotlighting, floodlighting, and the like) to be turned off, with an alternate low level lighting system used for clean-up, night maintenance and other activities.
(3) Exemptions. Outdoor athletic fields and courts established as accessory uses to single and two-family residences shall be exempt from these requirements.
(G) Security lighting. Security lighting shall be coordinated with other lighting on the property to the extent possible and shall otherwise be in compliance with the following requirements:
(1) Non-residential lighting fixtures. All security lighting in non-residential areas shall be shielded and specifically aimed so that illumination is directed only to the intended area. The light source for any security lighting shall include shields that prevent their light source or lens from being visible from adjacent properties and/or streets. Security lighting fixtures may be mounted on poles located no further than ten feet from the perimeter of the area intended to be illuminated.
(2) Residential lighting fixtures. Security lighting fixtures in residential areas shall make use of indirect and reflected lighting techniques to provide soft lighting under canopies, entry porches, or soffits.
(H) Lighting of building facades. Building facades may be illuminated, subject to the following requirements:
(1) Lighting fixtures. Lighting fixtures shall be located, aimed, and shielded so that light is directed only onto the building facade. Lighting fixtures shall not be directed toward adjacent streets or roads.
(2) Lighting direction. Lighting fixtures shall be designed to wash the facade of the building with light (rather than providing a spot or floodlight affect) and may be directed upward or downward onto the facade. Exterior facade lighting shall be contained on the building facade or in the landscape areas adjacent to the building and shall focus on entries and architectural features.
(I) Sight lighting. Lighting for parking lots and other on-site lighting not addressed elsewhere in this chapter shall be as follows:
(1) All light fixtures shall be fully recessed into the fixture housing;
(2) All lighting fixtures and poles within a single development shall be consistent in style, color, size, height, and design;
(3) All lighting fixtures and poles shall be decorative and compatible with the architecture of the building;
(4) The maximum height for free-standing lighting fixtures is 25 feet;
(5) Shielding may be required by the Administrative Officer to prevent glare and other lighting concerns on adjacent properties and for the benefit of the motoring public;
(6) Required pedestrian facilities in Town Center or Old Town must be illuminated with pedestrian scaled lighting;
(7) Light levels at property lines (except along rights-of-way) are limited to 0.3 footcandles. If a neighboring property is used for or zoned residential the light level is further limited to 0.1 footcandles.
(Ord. 121410, passed 1-11-2011; Ord. 111114, passed 11-11-2014; Ord. 041216-A, passed 4-12-2016; Ord. 111020C, passed 12-8-2020)