(a) Photometric Plan Review. For all proposed developments in the NC, CC, and IIM Zones and in the CS District, a photometric plan showing compliance with these standards shall be submitted along with all site plans. The photometric plan may be incorporated into the site plan if all photometric plan components are included. The photometric plan shall include all of the following:
(1) All structure(s), parking spaces, building entrances, traffic areas (both vehicular and pedestrian);
(2) Vegetation that might interfere with lighting;
(3) Adjacent uses that might be adversely impacted by the lighting;
(4) All exterior lighting, including but not limited to, architectural, building-entrance, landscaping, flag, accent, etc.); and
(5) A layout of all proposed fixtures by location, orientation, aiming direction, mounting height and type.
(b) Exempt Exterior Lighting. The following exterior lighting is exempt from the requirements of this section:
(1) FAA-mandated lighting associated with a utility tower or airport;
(2) Lighting for the United States flag, Ohio flag, a county or city flag, a corporate flag, or any other permissible flag;
(3) Holiday lighting or special event lighting, provided the lighting does not create unsafe glare on street rights-of-way or on adjacent properties;
(4) Battery-powered emergency lighting;
(5) Architectural lighting of 40 watts or less;
(6) Public safety lighting;
(7) Street lighting in the public right-of-way, though every attempt shall be made to select glare free fixtures and use shields and other devices to direct lighting downward; and
(8) Residential garage, porch, and architectural and landscape accent lighting.
(c) Light Level Measuring. The following sets forth the measurement of light level:
(1) Light levels are specified, calculated and measured in foot-candles. All foot-candles values are maintained foot-candles.
(2) Measurements are to be made at ground level, with the light-registering portion of the meter held parallel to the ground pointing up.
(d) Design and Installation Requirements. All light fixtures shall meet the following requirements:
(1) The maximum light level of any light fixture cannot exceed 0.5 foot-candles measured at the property line of any residential district, 2.0 foot-candles measured at the property line of any non-residential district, and 2.5 foot-candles at the property line of a parking lot.
(2) Lighting must not be oriented to direct glare or excessive illumination onto adjacent properties, streets or sidewalks.
(3) All lighting fixtures and poles within a single development shall be consistent in style, color, size, height, and design and are compatible with the architecture character of the development. Service connections for all freestanding lighting fixtures must be installed underground.
(4) Lighting must meet City of Sidney Engineering Standards.
(e) Lighting Specifically for Parking and Pedestrian Areas. The following regulations apply specifically to parking and pedestrian areas:
(1) Light fixtures within parking and vehicular areas may be no higher than 30 feet.
(2) Light fixtures within pedestrian areas may be no higher than 15 feet.
(3) Light fixture located within 50 feet of a property line of a residential zoning district may be no higher than 15 feet.
(4) Light fixtures in parking and vehicular display areas must be full cutoff.
(5) In all other areas, light fixtures with more than 2,000 lumens must be full cutoff unless they meet the following:
A. Decorative, non-cutoff fixtures can be used when the maximum initial lumens generated by each fixture does not exceed 9,500 lumens;
B. If the unshielded fixture has all metal halide, fluorescent, induction, white high-pressure sodium and color-corrected high-pressure sodium lamps, the outer lamp envelope must be coated with an internal white frosting to diffuse light;
C. All metal halide fixtures equipped with a medium base socket must use either an internal refractive lens or a wide-body refractive globe; or
D. All non-cutoff fixture open-bottom lights must have equipped with full cutoff fixture shields.
E. To the extent possible, as determined by the Administrator, internal light sources within structured parking shall not be visible from the adjacent public right-of-way. Rooftop lighting for parking structures shall be no more than 15 feet above the rooftop parking surface and shall be mounted a minimum of 15 feet in from the edge of the structure.
(f) Flood Lights and Flood Lamps. The following regulations apply to flood lights and lamps:
(1) Flood light fixtures must be either aimed down at least 45 degrees from the vertical or the front of the fixture shielded so that no portion of the light bulb extends below the bottom edge of the shield.
(2) Any flood light fixture located within 50 feet of a street right-of-way must be mounted and aimed perpendicular to the right-of-way, with a side-to-side horizontal aiming tolerance not to exceed 15 degrees.
(3) All flood lamps emitting 1,000 or more lumens must be aimed at least 60 degrees down from horizontal or shielded so that the main beam is not visible from adjacent properties or the street right-of-way.
(g) Canopy Lighting. Lighting under canopies must be designed to prevent glare off-site. Acceptable lighting designs include the following:
(1) Recessed fixture incorporating a lens cover that is either recessed or flush with the bottom of the surface canopy;
(2) Lighting fixture incorporating shields or is shielded by the edge of the canopy itself;
(3) Surface mounted fixture incorporating a flat glass that provides a cutoff design or shielded light distribution;
(4) Surface mounted fixture measuring no more than two feet by two feet, with a lens cover that contains at least 2% white fill diffusion material; or
(5) Indirect lighting where light is beamed upward and then reflected down from the underside of the canopy, provided the fixture is shielded so that direct illumination is focused exclusively on the underside of the canopy.
(h) Sports and Performance Venues. Lighting of outdoor sports areas, athletic fields, and performance areas shall comply with the following standards:
(1) Sport field lights shall not exceed 100 feet in height.
(2) All lighting fixtures shall be equipped with an existing glare control package (e.g., louvers, shields, or similar devices) and aimed so that their beams are directed and fall within the primary playing or performance area.
Figure 12. Illustration showing outdoor lighting aimed at 45 degrees from horizontal. The lower image shows a lamp equipped with a cutoff shield, which reduces glare and uplighting.
(Ord. A-3075. Passed 1- 24-22.)