(A) Definitions.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING.
The illumination of an outside area or object by any manmade device that produces light by any means.
FIXTURE.
The assembly that houses the lamp or lamps and can include all or some of the following parts: a housing, a mounting bracket or pole socket, a lamp holder, a ballast, a reflector or mirror, and/or a refractor or lens.
FOOT-CANDLE - (fc).
A unit of illumination produced on a surface, all points of which are one foot from a uniform point source of one standard candle.
FOOT-CANDLE HORIZONTAL MEASUREMENT (hfc).
The measurement of footcandles utilizing a direct reading, portable light meter mounted on a horizontal position.
GLARE.
The sensation produced by luminance within the visual field that is sufficiently greater than the luminance to which the eyes are adapted to cause annoyance, discomfort, or loss in visual performance and visibility.
HEIGHT OF LUMINAIRE.
The mounting height of a luminaire shall be the vertical distance from the ground directly below the center line of the luminaire to the lowest direct light-emitting part of the luminaire. The total height of the pole, including the base and any mounting arms or other attachments to which the luminaire is attached, as measured from the ground directly below the highest part of the pole or any of its attachments, to the top of the pole or luminaire, which the case may be.
LIGHT LOSS FACTOR (LLF).
A factor applied to lamps which estimates the lumen output of a lamp sometime after installation. (For example, a lamp with an initial lumen rating of 10,000 which has a light loss factor of 0.8 is estimated to put out 8,000 lumens. A lamp with an initial lumen rating of 10,000, which has a light loss factor of 1.0, is estimated to put out 10,000 lumens.)
LUMINAIRE.
A complete lighting unit consisting of a light source and all necessary mechanical, electrical, and decorative parts.
UNIFORMITY RATIO.
A complete lighting unit consisting of a light source and all necessary mechanical, electrical, and decorative parts.
(B) Luminaire design factors.
(1) The style of the light and light standards shall be consistent with the architectural style of the principal building.
(2) Pathways, sidewalks, and trails shall be lighted with low-level fixtures not to exceed eight feet in pole height.
(3) All building lighting for security or aesthetics shall include glare controls and shall be shielded. Floodlighting is discouraged, and if used, shall be shielded to prevent disability glare for drivers or pedestrians, light trespass beyond the property line, and light above a 90 degree horizontal plane. Wallpack type fixtures shall not be permitted.
(4) All parking area lighting shall include glare controls and shall be shielded.
(5) Poles supporting lights shall be no taller than 12 feet in a residential district, 18 feet in a commercial district, a commercial part of a residential planned unit development, or in office/business park districts, and 22 feet in any industrial district.
(C) Standards and requirements.
(1) Lighting shall be provided in accordance with the standards of the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA) as follows:
IESNA PARKING LOT LEVELS OF ACTIVITY | IESNA MAINTAINED HORIZONTAL ILLUMINANCE STANDARDS (FOOT-CANDLES) | |||||
General parking and pedestrian area | Vehicle use area (only) | |||||
Average | Minimum | Uniformity Ratio | Average | Minimum | Uniformity Ratio | |
High | 3.6 | 0.9 | 4:1 | 2.0 | 0.67 | 3:1 |
Major athletic events | ||||||
Major cultural events | ||||||
Regional shopping center (retail space above 300,000 square feet) | ||||||
Automotive dealerships | ||||||
Entertainment theaters | ||||||
Medium | 2.4 | 0.6 | 4:1 | 1.0 | 0.33 | 3:1 |
Community shopping centers (retail spaces to 299,999 square feet) | ||||||
Office parks | ||||||
Fast-food facilities (>40 seats) | ||||||
Hospital parking | ||||||
Multi-family residential complex | ||||||
Low | 0.8 | 0.2 | 4:1 | 0.5 | 0.13 | --- |
Neighborhood shopping (retail space of less than 5,000 square feet) | ||||||
Industrial employee parking | ||||||
Educational facilities | ||||||
Church parking | ||||||
(D) Measuring light levels.
(1) Metering equipment. Light levels of both direct and indirect light shall be measured in foot-candles with a direct reading, portable light meter. Readings shall be taken only after the cell has been exposed long enough to provide a constant reading.
(2) Method of measurement. Foot-candle horizontal measurements shall be taken at a height of three and one-half feet aboveground.
(E) Exceptions and variances.
(1) Because of their unique requirements for nighttime visibility and their limited hours of operation, ball diamonds, playing fields, tennis courts, and other outdoor recreational facilities shall be exempted from the general standards of this division. Lighting for outdoor recreational facilities shall be shielded to minimize light and glare from spilling onto adjacent residential properties. The maximum permitted illumination at adjoining residential property lines shall be one foot-candle. The maximum permitted illumination at adjoining nonresidential property lines shall be two foot-candles.
(2) Luminaries used for public roadway illumination by a public transportation agency shall be exempt from the requirements of this section but may be subject to the regulations of federal or state agencies or by intergovernmental agreements.
(3) Decorative seasonal lighting shall be limited to a power rating of less than or equal to 75 watts.
(4) Temporary emergency lighting used by police, firefighters, and other emergency services, as well as all vehicular luminaries shall be exempt.
(5) Hazard warning lights that are required by local or federal regulatory agencies shall be exempt.
(6) Transportation facilities shall be exempt.
(7) Public walkways shall be exempt.
(8) When site characteristics are unique and the requirements of this section cannot be met, the city administrator has the authority to approve nonconforming lighting designs if the illumination levels and/or uniformity rations are within 20% of the values set forth in this section. All other nonconforming designs shall be subject to approval of the city council through petition or by annexation agreement or development agreement.
(F) Nonconforming luminaires. Exterior lighting luminaires in existence on the effective date of this section shall be exempt from the standards of this section and shall be considered legally nonconforming. Such fixtures may be repaired and maintained. However, if any legal nonconforming luminaire is moved or damaged by any means to an extent that its total replacement is necessary, the luminaire or replacement shall comply with this section. For development activity involving improved property, luminaires shall be required to comply with this section when the floor area of any building or structure, or parking areas, or any combination thereof, is increased by 10% or greater.
(G) Exterior lighting plan required.
(1) A lighting plan shall be required any time exterior lighting is proposed or modified that is associated with a residential use or greater density than a one-family dwelling or with any commercial, office, industrial, or other use. The lighting plan shall be submitted with the site plan information as required in this section.
(2) The lighting plan shall include a site plan indicating location of light fixtures and intensity of foot-candles at various points on the site, catalog cuts of the proposed fixtures, and a summary table containing average foot-candles, minimum foot-candles, maximum foot-candles, uniformity ratio (average/minimum), foot candles at the property line, pole heights, and light loss factor (LLF). The plan shall also contain a certification by the property owner or agent and the preparer of the plan of the exterior lighting depicted on the plan complies with the requirements of this chapter. Once the plan is approved, the exterior lighting of the property shall conform to the plan.
(Ord. O-46-02, passed 12-17-02)