155.5401. GENERAL EXTERIOR LIGHTING STANDARDS

   A.   Purpose

The purpose of this section is to regulate exterior lighting to ensure the safety of motorists and pedestrians and minimize adverse impacts on adjacent properties. More specifically, this section is intended to:

      1.   Regulate lighting to assure that excessive light spillage and glare are not directed at adjacent properties, neighboring areas, and motorists;

      2.   Ensure that all site lighting is designed and installed to maintain adequate lighting levels on site while limiting negative lighting impacts on adjacent lands; and

      3.   Provide security for persons and land.

   B.   Applicability

      1.   General

   The provisions of this section shall apply to all development in the city unless exempted in accordance with Section 155.5401.B.2, Exemptions.

      2.   Exemptions

         a.   The following are exempted from the exterior lighting standards of this section:

            i.   Existing athletic field lighting; and

            ii.   Public streetlights located within a street right-of-way and lighting for public facilities.

         b.   Single family dwellings and two-family dwellings are exempt from the exterior light standards of this section except:

            i.   Section 155.5401.D, Maximum Lighting Height; and

            ii.   The Maximum Illumination at Property line in Section 155.5401.E.

         c.   The Development Services Director may waive all or part of the standards in this Section, 155.5401, if it is demonstrated that the implementation of the standards results in a conflict with the city's adopted CPTED guidelines.

      3.   Lighting Plan Required

   Applications for approval of a Major or Minor Site Plan (Section 155.2407) shall include a lighting plan (including a photometric plan) that addresses the standards in this section.

   C.   Lighting Location and Required Landscaping and Tree Protection

No exterior lighting fixtures shall be located in any landscaped planting areas required in and around vehicular uses areas in accordance with Section 155.5203.D, Vehicular Use Area Landscaping (e.g., perimeter landscaping strips, landscaped islands in parking bays, landscaped areas between parking bays, and landscaping between vehicular use areas and buildings).

   D.   Maximum Lighting Height

      1.   Except for outdoor sports fields or performance areas, the maximum height of exterior lighting fixtures, whether mounted on poles or walls or by other means, shall be:

         a.   17.5 feet in single-family residential (RS-), RD-1, and MH-12 zoning districts;

         b.   20 feet in multifamily residential (RM-) zoning districts and those parts of nonresidential district within 200 feet of a residential zoning district; and

         c.   30 feet in all other parts of nonresidential districts.

      2.   Wherever possible, illumination of outdoor seating areas, building entrances, and walkways shall be accomplished by use of ground mounted fixtures not more than four feet in height.

   E.   Illumination Levels

All exterior lighting shall have intensities and a uniformity ratio consistent with the IESNA Lighting Handbook (Illuminations Engineering Society of North America) and shall be designed and located so that the illumination measured in foot-candles at finished grade shall comply with the standards in Table 155.5401.E, Minimum and Maximum Illumination Levels. The illumination shall take into account changes in finished grade, walls, and other existing or proposed building and site conditions.