The purpose of this chapter is to require and set minimum standards
for outdoor lighting to:
A. Provide outdoor lighting to delineate roads, drives, parking areas,
pedestrianways, buildings, and other organizational points where public
health, safety and welfare are potential concerns.
B. Protect drivers and pedestrians from disabling glare of nonvehicular
light sources.
C. Be an integral part of the overall architectural design; therefore,
proposed lighting, whether freestanding or building recessed, shall
complement the architectural character of the principal use.
D. Prevent unnecessary waste of energy and resources in the production
of too much light or wasted light.
E. Prevent interference in the use or enjoyment of property which is
not intended to be illuminated at night.
F. Protect the scenic view from increased urban skyglow.
G. Minimize light pollution, glare, and light trespass, and conserve
energy while maintaining nighttime safety, utility, security, and
productivity.
If at any time there is a conflict between the regulations set
forth in this chapter and any other regulations applicable to the
same area, the more stringent limitation or requirement shall apply.
For the purposes of this chapter, terms used shall be defined
as follows:
CLASS 1 LIGHTING
All outdoor lighting used for, but not limited to, outdoor
sales or eating areas, assembly or repair areas, advertising and other
signs, recreational facilities, and other similar applications where
color rendition is important.
CLASS 2 LIGHTING
All outdoor lighting used for security lighting where general
illumination of the grounds is the primary concern.
CLASS 3 LIGHTING
Any outdoor lighting used for decorative effects, including
but not limited to architectural illumination, flag monument lighting,
and illumination of trees, bushes, etc.
CUTOFF
The luminous intensity at or above an angle of 90° above
nadir (as measured directly below the lamp to the ground) does not
exceed 2.5% of the luminous flux of the lamp or lamps in the luminaire,
and the luminous intensity at or above a vertical angle of 80°
above nadir does not exceed 10% of the luminous flux of the lamp or
lamps in the luminaire.
DIRECT ILLUMINATION
Illumination resulting from light emitted directly from a
lamp, luminary, or reflector, not light diffused through translucent
signs or reflected from other surfaces such as the ground or building
faces.
ESTABLISHMENT
Refers to all businesses, organizations, and institutions
such as schools and churches, etc.
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.
FLOOD OR SPOT LIGHTS
Any light fixture or lamp that incorporates a reflector or
a refractor to concentrate the light output into a directed beam in
a particular direction.
FULL CUTOFF
The luminous intensity at or above an angle of 90° above
nadir is zero, and the luminous intensity at or above a vertical angle
of 80° above nadir does not exceed 10% of the luminous flux of
the lamp or lamps in the luminaire (see attached figures).
FULLY SHIELDED FIXTURE
A fixture that is shielded in such a manner that light rays
emitted by the fixture, either directly from the lamp or indirectly
from the fixture, are projected below a horizontal plane running through
the lowest point on the fixture where light is emitted (see attached
figures).
GLARE
The stray unshielded light striking the eye that may result
in:
A.
A nuisance or annoyance glare such as the light shining into
the window;
B.
Discomfort glare such as bright light causing squinting of the
eyes;
C.
Disabling glare such as bright light reducing the ability of
the eyes to see into shadows; or
D.
Reduction of visual performance.
HEIGHT OF LUMINAIRE
The vertical distance from the ground directly below the
center line of the luminaire to the lowest direct-light emitting part
of the luminaire.
HOLIDAY LIGHTING
Refers to strings of individual lamps, where the lamps are
at least three inches apart and the output per lamp is not greater
than 15 lumens.
LAMP
Refers to the component of a luminaire that produces the
actual light.
LIGHT POLLUTION
The adverse effect of man-made light, including but not limited
to discomfort to the eye or diminished vision due to glare, light
trespass, uplighting, the uncomfortable distraction to the eye, or
any man-made light that diminishes the ability to view the night sky.
LIGHT SOURCE
A singular point from where light originates, which is typically
a lamp within a luminaire.
LIGHT TRESPASS
Spill light falling over property lines that illuminates
adjacent grounds or buildings when it is not required to do so.
LUMEN
Refers to the unit used to quantify the amount of light energy
produced by a lamp at the lamp. Lumen output of most lamps is listed
on the packaging. For example, a sixty-watt incandescent lamp produces
950 lumens while a fifty-five-watt low-pressure sodium lamp produces
8,000 lumens.
LUMINAIRE
A complete lighting unit, consisting of a lamp or lamps together
with the parts designed to distribute the light, to position and protect
the lamps and to connect the lamps to the power. When used, includes
ballasts and photocells. Commonly referred to as "fixture."
OUTDOOR RECREATIONAL FACILITY
Refers to an area designated for active recreation, whether
publicly or privately owned, including but not limited to parks, baseball
diamonds, soccer and football fields, golf courses, tennis courts,
and swimming pools.
SKYGLOW
The overhead glow from light emitted sideways and upwards.
Skyglow is caused by the reflection and scattering of light by dust,
water vapor, and other particles suspended in the atmosphere. It reduces
one's ability to view the night sky.
TEMPORARY LIGHTING
Lighting which may not conform to the provisions of this
chapter and which will not be used for more than one thirty-day period
within a calendar year. Temporary lighting is intended for uses which
by their nature are of limited duration, e.g., holiday decorations,
civic events, or construction projects.
TOTAL OUTDOOR LIGHT OUTPUT
The maximum total amount of light, measured in lumens, from
all outdoor light fixtures on a property. For lamp types that vary
in their output as they age (such as high-pressure sodium and metal
halide), the initial output, as defined by the manufacturer, is the
value to be considered.
ZONE 1
Refers to all properties located east of State Highway 175.
ZONE 2
Refers to all properties located west of State Highway 175.
Lighting must comply with the following general requirements:
A. Height of light poles. Parking lot lighting poles shall be sized
in such a manner that the top of any luminary does not exceed 30 feet
above adjacent grade.
B. Residential lighting. Freestanding luminaires on private property
in residential zones shall be mounted at a height equal to or less
than the sum of H = (D/3) +3 where D is the distance in feet to the
nearest property boundary, but shall not be higher than 15 feet from
ground level to the top of the luminaire, whichever is less. Examples:
|
Pole Height
|
Distance to Property Line
|
---|
|
15 feet
|
36 feet (36/3 = 12 + 3 = 15)
|
|
12 feet
|
27 feet (27/3 = 9 + 3 = 12)
|
|
9 feet
|
18 feet (18/3 = 6 + 3 = 9)
|
C. Light fixtures. The requirements for lamp source and shielding of
light emissions for outdoor light fixtures are as follows:
(1) Class 1, 2, and 3 lighting:
|
Lamp Type
|
Shielding
|
---|
|
All lamp types above 2,050 lumens
|
Only fully shielded allowed
|
|
All types below 2,050 lumens
|
Unshielded allowed
|
|
All neon tube lighting
|
Unshielded allowed
|
|
Lamps in motion sensing security lights
|
Unshielded allowed
|
|
NOTES:
|
---|
|
1.
|
Examples of lamp types 2,050 lumens and below:
|
|
|
a.
|
One-hundred-watt standard incandescent and less.
|
|
|
b.
|
One-hundred-watt midbreak tungsten-halogen (quartz) and less.
|
|
|
c.
|
Twenty-five-watt T-12 cool white fluorescent and less.
|
|
|
d.
|
Eighteen-watt low-pressure sodium and less.
|
|
2.
|
Lights shall be shielded whenever feasible to minimize light
spilled into the night sky or adjacent properties. Unshielded lights
are limited to a maximum of 5,500 lumens per net acre.
|
D. Outdoor light output. Total outdoor light output, excluding streetlights
used for illumination of public rights-of-way, of any development
project shall not exceed 100,000 lumens per net acre in Zone 1 and
50,000 lumens per net acre in Zone 2, averaged over the entire property.
The Plan Commission may exercise discretion in regards to lumens per
net acre if there are concerns of safe lighting conditions.
E. All light fixtures which are required to be shielded shall be installed
in such a manner that the shielding complies with the definition of
fully shielded fixture (see attached Figures 2 and 4 on Chart 2) and
must have a fixed nonadjustable mounting.
F. Class 1 lighting, including but not limited to commercial, industrial,
and park and recreation areas, may only continue in operation until
10:00 p.m. or for as long as the area is in active use, whichever
is later, unless a different time restriction was placed on the property
through a conditional use permit or lighting plan approval.
G. Class 2 lighting shall have no time restrictions except as specified
by the Plan Commission for new projects at the time of lighting plan
approval.
H. Class 3 lighting, except for flagpole lighting, must be extinguished
by 10:00 p.m. or when the establishment closes, whichever is later,
except that low-wattage holiday decorations may remain on all night
from November 15 to January 15.
I. Multiclass lighting, except for security lights, must conform to
the time limitations of the strictest class.
J. Signs. Lighting used internally or externally for all signs shall
comply with the following provisions:
(1) Lighting used for externally illuminated signs shall conform to all
restrictions of this chapter, shall be fully shielded, and shall be
turned off by 10:00 p.m. or when the establishment closes, whichever
is later.
(2) Outdoor internally illuminated advertising signs shall either be
constructed with an opaque background and translucent letters and
symbols or with a colored (not white, cream, off-white, yellow or
other light color) translucent background, with either translucent
or opaque letters and symbols. Opaque means only that the material
must not transmit light from the internal illumination source; the
color of such opaque backgrounds is not restricted by this section.
Lamps used for internal illumination of such signs shall be included
in the lumens per net acre limit. All illuminated signs shall be turned
off at 10:00 p.m. or when the establishment closes, whichever is later.
(3) All provisions of Chapter
309, Signs, of the Code of the Village of Richfield must also be followed.
K. Search lights, laser source lights, or any similar high-intensity
light shall not be permitted, except by law enforcement and other
governmental agencies in pursuit of their official duties.
L. Outdoor floodlighting by floodlight projection above the horizontal
plane is prohibited.
M. Canopy lights, such as service station lighting, shall be fully recessed
or fully shielded so as to ensure that no light source is visible
from or causes glare on public rights-of-way or adjacent properties.
N. Motion sensing lighting fixtures shall be properly adjusted, according
to the manufacturer's instructions, to turn off when detected
motion ceases.
O. Maximum allowance for light trespassing.
(1) The intensity of illumination projected onto a residential zoned
use from another property shall not exceed 0.1 footcandle, at any
location on any residential property, as measurable from any orientation
of the measuring device.
(2) In no case shall illumination levels from any outdoor light fixture(s),
individually or combined, measure above 0.2 footcandle, at the neighboring
property line zoned for nonresidential uses, as measureable from any
orientation of the measuring device.
(3) The Plan Commission may exercise discretion in regard to light trespass
into public rights-of-way if it is determined to be beneficial to
safe lighting conditions of adjacent sidewalks or other public areas.
When streetlighting is to be dedicated to the Village, the applicant
shall be responsible for all costs involved in the lighting of streets
and street intersections until the street is accepted for dedication.
A. Prior to dedication and in the event of the formation of a homeowners'
association and/or property management declaration, the Village shall
require said agency to enter into an agreement guaranteeing the Village
payment of all costs associated with dedicated streetlighting.
B. Assumption of costs of dedicated streetlighting. Following installation
of the streetlights, the Village may charge the homeowners' association,
individual property owners, or corporations for the subdivision, as
may be necessary, to collect all revenues required that are directly
or indirectly associated with costs of installing, maintaining, or
repairing each specific streetlighting fixture. If the charges are
imposed on an entity and not paid, the Village may charge the lot
owners in the subdivision on a pro rata basis. If such charges are
not paid by any lot owner within the period fixed by the Village,
the charges shall become a lien upon the lot owner's lot as provided
in § 66.0627, Wis. Stats., and shall be extended upon the
tax roll as a delinquent tax against the lot owner's lot as provided
in § 66.0627, Wis. Stats.
Each violation of any provision of this Chapter
234 shall be subject to the penalties and remedies described in §
1-3 of this Code.