This chapter may be known and referred to as "Dark Sky Ordinance"
or the "Exterior Lighting Ordinance."
It is the intent of this chapter to define practical and effective
measures by which the obtrusive aspects of excessive and/or careless
outdoor light usage can be minimized, while preserving safety, security
and the nighttime use and enjoyment of property. These measures will
curtail the degradation of the nighttime visual environment by encouraging
lighting practices that direct appropriate amounts of light where
and when it is needed, increasing the use of energy efficient sources,
and decreasing the wastage of light and glare resulting from over-lighting
and poorly shielded or inappropriately directed lighting fixtures.
All outdoor illuminating devices shall be installed in conformance
with all other provisions of the Blue Mounds Village Code, including
but not limited to the Building Code and the Electrical Code, where applicable.
[Added 11-14-2018 by Ord.
No. A-238]
A. The
Village Board may allow exemptions from this chapter as needed to
relieve any unusual circumstances or difficulties or costs that would
be encountered if an attempt were made to comply with this chapter.
B. The
Village Board may allow exemptions from this chapter to recognize
that a good faith attempt has been made to comply with this chapter,
but compliance is still not possible due to unusual circumstances
or difficulties or costs encountered.
As used in this chapter, unless the context clearly indicates
otherwise, certain words and phrases used in this chapter shall mean
the following:
DIRECT ILLUMINATION
Illumination resulting from light emitted directly from a
lamp or luminaire, not light diffused through translucent signs or
reflected from other surfaces such as the ground or building faces.
DISPLAY LOT OR AREA
Outdoor areas where active nighttime sales activity occurs,
and where accurate color perception of merchandise by customers is
required. To qualify as a display lot, one of the following specific
uses must occur: automobile sales, boat sales, tractor sales, building
supply sales, gardening or nursery sales, assembly lots, swap meets.
Uses not on this list must be approved as display lot uses by the
Plan Commission.
FLOODLIGHT
A specific form of lamp designed to direct its output in
a specific direction (a beam) but with a diffusing glass envelope.
Such lamps are so designated by the manufacturers and are typically
used in residential outdoor area lighting.
FOOTCANDLE
One lumen per square foot. Unit of illuminance. It is the
luminous flux per unit area in the Imperial system. One footcandle
equals approximately 0.1 (0.093) lux.
FULLY SHIELDED LIGHT FIXTURE
A lighting fixture constructed in such a manner that all
light emitted by the fixture, either directly from the lamp or a diffusing
element, or indirectly by reflection or refraction from any part of
the luminaire, is projected below the horizontal as determined by
photometric test or certified by the manufacturer. Any structural
part of the light fixture providing this shielding must be permanently
affixed.
GLARE
The sensation produced by a bright source within the visual
field that is sufficiently brighter than the level to which the eyes
are adapted to cause annoyance, discomfort, or loss in visual performance
and visibility. The magnitude of glare depends on such factors as
the size, position, brightness of the source, and on this brightness
level to which the eyes are adapted.
INSTALLED
The attachment, or assembly fixed in place, whether or not
connected to a power source, of any outdoor light fixture.
LUMEN
Unit of luminous flux; used to measure the amount of light
emitted by lamps.
LUMINAIRE
The complete lighting assembly, less the support assembly.
For purposes of determining total light output from a luminaire, lighting
assemblies which include multiple unshielded or partially shielded
lamps on a single pole or standard shall be considered as a single
unit.
LUX
One lumen per square meter. Unit of illuminance. It is the
luminous flux per unit area in the metric system. One lux equals approximately
10 (10.8) footcandles.
OPAQUE
"Opaque" means that a material does not transmit light from
an internal illumination source. Applied to sign backgrounds, means
that the area surrounding any letters or symbols on the sign either
is not lighted from within, or allows no light from an internal source
to shine through it.
OUTDOOR LIGHT FIXTURE
An outdoor illuminating device, outdoor lighting or reflective
surface, lamp or similar device, permanently installed or portable,
used for illumination or advertisement. Such devices shall include,
but are not limited to lights used for:
C.
Buildings and structures;
F.
Billboards and other signs (advertising or other);
G.
Product display area lighting;
H.
Building overhangs and open canopies.
OUTDOOR LIGHT OUTPUT, TOTAL
The maximum total amount of light, measured in lumens, from
all outdoor light fixtures. For lamp types that vary in their output
as they age (such as high-pressure sodium, fluorescent and metal halide),
the initial output, as defined by the manufacturer, is the value to
be considered. For determining compliance with the total outdoor light
output of this chapter, the light emitted from outdoor light fixtures
is to be included in the total output as follows:
A.
Outdoor light fixtures installed on poles (such as parking lot
luminaires) and light fixtures installed on the side of buildings
or other structures, when not shielded from above by the structure
itself as defined below, are to be included in the total outdoor light
output by simply adding the initial lumen outputs of the lamps used;
B.
Outdoor light fixtures installed under canopies, buildings (including
parking garage decks), overhangs or roof eaves where all parts of
the lamp or luminaire are located at least five feet but less than
10 feet from the nearest edge of the canopy or overhang are to be
included in the total outdoor light output as though they produced
only one-quarter of the lamp's rated initial lumen output;
C.
Outdoor light fixtures installed under canopies, buildings (including
parking garage decks), overhangs or roof eaves where all parts of
the lamp or luminaire are located at least 10 feet but less than 30
feet from the nearest edge of the canopy or overhang are to be included
in the total outdoor light output as though they produced only 1/10
of the lamp's rated initial lumen output.
D.
Outdoor light fixtures installed under canopies, buildings (including
parking garage decks), overhangs or roof eaves where all parts of
the lamp or luminaire are located 30 or more feet from the nearest
edge of the canopy or overhang are not to be included in the total
outdoor light output. Such lamps must, however, conform to the lamp
source and shielding requirements of this chapter.
OUTDOOR RECREATION FACILITY
An area designed for active recreation, whether publicly
or privately owned, including, but not limited to, baseball diamonds,
soccer and football fields, golf courses, tennis courts and swimming
pools.
PERSON
Any individual, tenant, lessee, owner, or any commercial
entity including, but not limited to firm, business, partnership,
joint venture or corporation.
SIGN, INTERNALLY ILLUMINATED
A sign illuminated by light sources enclosed entirely within
the sign cabinet and not directly visible from outside the sign.
SIGN, NEON
A sign including luminous gas-filled tubes formed into text,
symbols or decorative elements and directly visible from outside the
sign cabinet.
SPOTLIGHT
A specific form of lamp designed to direct its output in
a specific direction (a beam) and with a clear or nearly clear glass
envelope; such lamps are so designated by the manufacturers, and typically
used in residential outdoor area lighting.
TEMPORARY LIGHTING
Lighting which does 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, with one thirty-day extension. Temporary lighting
is intended for uses which by their nature are of limited duration,
for example, holiday decorations, civic events or construction projects.
TRANSLUCENT
Permitting light to pass through but diffusing it so that
persons, objects, etc., on the opposite side are not clearly visible.
USE, ABANDONMENT OF
The relinquishment of a property, or the cessation of a use
or activity by the owner or tenant for a period of six months, excluding
temporary or short-term interruptions for the purpose of remodeling,
maintaining, or otherwise improving or rearranging a facility. A use
shall be deemed abandoned when such use is suspended as evidenced
by the cessation of activities or conditions which constitute the
principle use of the property.