A. Shielding: All outdoor light fixtures, except those exempt from this chapter, shall be fully shielded as required in table 7 of this section. Light sources that must be shielded shall be shielded in a manner that the bulb or light source from the fixture is not visible from an adjoining property or from the street view when viewed horizontally to the fixture.
B. Building And Structures: All lighting fixtures for buildings, structures and canopies shall adhere to the following requirements:
1. All building mounted light fixtures shall be fully shielded, except residential dwellings may install partially shielded light fixtures such as sconces but only at the garage and primary entryway. The application of lighting to architectural features, such as, but not limited to, building facade lighting, shall be minimized with all light directed downward away from adjacent lots, streets, and open spaces.
2. Exterior fixtures shall be mounted in or on a building wall not to exceed eight feet (8') above finished grade and shielded in such a manner as to avoid creating concentrated light (hot spots) on the structures to which they are mounted.
3. In commercial districts, within a fifteen foot (15') radius of the entry door, there shall be some type of lighting to distinguish the building entrance.
4. Overhead lighting used to light building overhangs and open canopies shall be fully recessed within the overhang or canopy. The maximum lighting intensity (eye illumination levels) under the canopy shall be no greater than 2.0 lux (0.2 fc) when measured directly under the overhang or canopy or greater than 1.0 lux (0.10 fc) when measured at the property line.
C. Security Lighting: If elected, security lighting may be permitted provided the following:
1. In residential zoning districts, building or wall mounted fixtures are fully shielded and shall not exceed a mounting height of ten feet (10'). Within the commercial and industrial zoning districts, building or wall mounted fixtures are fully shielded and shall not exceed a mounting height of twelve feet (12') or a height equal to one-third (1/3) the height of the building wall on which they are mounted, whichever is greater, except that a fully shielded light fixture may be mounted above a bay door. The maximum height of lighting standards (poles) used for security purposes, excluding parking lot lighting, shall be twelve feet (12').
2. Motion sensor/detector light fixtures that are fully shielded are the preferred type for security lighting.
3. In residential zoning districts security lighting must be controlled separately from all other lighting with the security lights being on timers that regulate their operation time to a maximum of ten (10) minutes and limited to lamps with a maximum of seven hundred fifty (750) lumens.
D. Parking Area Lighting: The town requires the lighting of designated parking areas. The use of short bollard style shielded light fixtures may be considered in lieu of overhead lighting for parking lot lighting in residential neighborhoods or residentially zoned property. Parking lot lighting requirements shall be as follows:
1. Within the commercial and industrial zoning districts the maximum lighting intensity (eye illumination levels) of the parking areas shall be 2.0 lux (0.20 fc), as measured within the designated parking area and at the property line. However, if the commercial or industrial zoning district abuts a residential zoning district the maximum lighting intensity (eye illumination levels) in the parking area shall be 1.0 lux (0.10 fc) measured at the property line.
2. Within the C-2 commercial and the I-1 and I-2 industrial zoning districts the maximum height of parking area lighting standards (poles) shall be twenty feet (20') within the interior of the parking area and sixteen feet (16') at or along the perimeter of the parking area. Within the OT and C-1 zoning districts, or if the parking area abuts a residential zoning district, the maximum height of the lighting standards (poles) shall be sixteen feet (16') within the interior of the parking area and twelve feet (12') at or along the perimeter of the parking area.
3. All parking area lighting, serving commercial businesses, shall be turned off one-half (1/2) hour after the close of the business that the parking area serves or as required for the safety of the employees leaving the business.
4. Within the multiple residence zoning districts, lighting standards (poles) within the parking areas shall be limited to a maximum height of twelve feet (12'). Motion sensor/detector light fixtures are encouraged to be placed under the parking shade canopy to provide both security and parking area lighting.
E. Outdoor Signage: All exterior lighting fixtures used to externally illuminate an outdoor advertising sign shall be mounted on the top of the sign structure, shall be fully shielded and directed downward.
F. Light Trespass: All outdoor light fixtures shall be directed downward and shall be fully shielded. Outdoor light fixtures shall be directed away from any residential property and shall not detract from driver visibility on adjacent streets. Spill light from any fixture shall be minimized and shall not spill beyond the property line on which the fixture is located.
G. Preferred Light Source: Low pressure sodium lamps are the preferred light source for minimizing adverse effects on astronomical observations. However, other light sources as outlined in table 7 of this section are permitted.
H. Ambient And Landscape Lighting: If desired, ambience lighting may be permitted provided the following:
1. Short bollard style partially shielded light fixtures or low wattage string lighting of specimen trees is preferred to that of building mounted lighting.
2. The maximum lighting intensity (eye illumination levels) of ambience lighting should not exceed 0.5 lux (0.05 fc).
3. All outdoor ambience lighting fixtures shall be turned off one-half (1/2) hour after the close of the business or as required for the safety of the employees leaving the business.
I. Recreational Facilities:
1. Lighting of outdoor recreational facilities, public or private, shall be turned off one-half (1/2) hour after the conclusion of the recreational or sporting event or as required for the safety of the employees leaving the facility and shall comply fully with all regulations of this chapter.
REQUIREMENTS FOR SHIELDING
Fixture Lamp Type
| Shielding5 |
/ | Filtering1 |
Fixture Lamp Type
| Shielding5 |
/ | Filtering1 |
Low pressure sodium2 | Partially | / | None |
High pressure sodium | Fully | / | None |
Metal halide/warm halide7 | Fully1,7 | / | Yes1 |
Fluorescent | Fully3 | / | Yes3 |
Quartz4 | Fully | / | None |
Incandescent, greater than 75 watts | Fully | / | None |
Incandescent, 75 watts or less | Partially | / | None |
Fossil fuel | None | / | None |
Glass tubes filled with neon, argon, krypton6 | None | / | None |
Other lamp types | As approved by the town of Parker | ||
Notes:
1. "Filtered" means a light fixture that has glass, acrylic, or translucent enclosures of the light source satisfy these filter requirements (quartz glass does not meet this requirement).
2. This is a preferable lamp type to minimize undesirable light into the night sky affecting astronomical observations.
3. Warm, white and natural lamps are preferred to minimize detrimental effects.
4. For the purpose of this title, quartz lamps (quartz halogens) shall not be considered an incandescent light source.
5. Or current IESNA guidelines, whichever is more restrictive.
6. Permitted only in commercial zoning districts; prohibited in all residential zones.
7. Metal halide lighting used for display purposes shall not be used for security lighting after 11:00 P.M. Metal halide lamps shall be installed only in enclosed luminaires.
(Ord. 03-2005, 9-6-2005)