A.
Purpose and intent. The purpose of this section is to regulate light
spillage and glare to ensure the safety of motorists and pedestrians,
and to ensure lighting does not adversely affect land uses on adjacent
lands. More specifically, this section is intended to:
B.
Applicability.
(1)
General. The provisions of this section shall apply to all development
in the City unless exempted in accordance with § 72-58B(4),
Exemptions.
(2)
Time of review. Review for compliance with the standards of
this section shall occur as part of the review of an application for
a site plan, planned development, certificate of appropriateness,
or certificate of zoning use, as appropriate by the Development Administrator.
(3)
Existing development. Compliance with these standards, to the
maximum extent practicable, shall also apply to redevelopment of an
existing structure, building, or use when it is expanded, enlarged,
or otherwise increased in intensity equivalent to or beyond 50%.
(4)
Exemptions. The following uses, activities and development are
exempt from the exterior lighting standards of this section:
(a)
FAA-mandated lighting associated with a utility tower or airport;
(b)
Lighting associated with navigational beacons, the United States
flag, Virginia flag, or City of Fredericksburg flag;
(c)
Holiday lighting during the months of November, December, and
January, provided the lighting does not create unsafe glare on street
rights-of-way;
(d)
Battery-powered emergency lighting; and
(e)
Architectural lighting of 450 lumens (= 40 watts incandescent)
or less.
To ensure compliance with the standards of this section, a lighting
plan demonstrating how exterior lighting will comply with the standards
of this section shall be included as part of every development approval
application.
A.
Hours of illumination. Institutional uses, commercial uses, and industrial
uses that are adjacent to existing residential development shall extinguish
all exterior lighting — except lighting necessary for security
or emergency purposes — within one hour after closing and shall
not turn on such lights until within one hour of opening. For the
purposes of this subsection, lighting "necessary for security or emergency
purposes" shall be construed to mean the minimum amount of exterior
lighting necessary to illuminate possible points of entry or exit
into a structure, to illuminate exterior walkways, or to illuminate
outdoor storage areas. Lighting activated by motion sensor devices
is strongly encouraged.
B.
Shielding. Except for single-family detached and duplex dwellings,
all exterior luminaries, including security lighting, shall be full
cut-off fixtures and directed downward, consistent with Figure 72-58.2B,
Full Cut-Off Fixtures. In no case shall lighting be directed above
a horizontal plane through the lighting fixture.
|
Figure 72-58.2B. Full Cut-Off Fixtures
 |
C.
Maximum height. Except for athletic fields or performance areas,
the height of outdoor lighting, whether mounted on poles, walls, or
by other means, shall be no greater than 25 feet above grade.
D.
Maximum illumination value.
(1)
All outdoor lighting and indoor lighting visible from outside
shall be designed and located so that the maximum illumination measured
in footcandles at ground level measured at any lot line shall not
exceed the standards in Table 72-58.2D, Maximum Illumination Levels,
and Figure 72-58.2D Maximum Illumination Value.
|
Table 72-58.2D Maximum Illumination Levels
| |
|---|---|
|
Type of Use Abutting a Lot Line [1]
|
Maximum Illumination Level at Lot Line
(footcandles)
|
|
Residential use or vacant land zoned for residential development
|
0.5
|
|
Institutional use
|
1.0
|
|
Commercial use or vacant land [2]
|
2.0
|
|
Industrial use
|
3.0
|
|
Parking lot
|
2.5
|
|
NOTES:
| |
|
[1]
|
See Table 72-40.2, Use Table
|
|
[2]
|
Includes mixed-use development
|
(2)
In no instance shall illumination levels within a lot or development
site exceed three footcandles.
|
Figure 72-58.2D. Maximum Illumination Value
 |
E.
Signage. Lighting for signage shall be governed by the standards
in § 72-59, Signage.
A.
Light level measurements shall be made from a lot line of the land
upon which light to be measured is being generated. If measurement
on private property adjacent to the light-generating land is not possible
or practical, light level measurements may be made at the boundary
of the public street right-of-way that adjoins the land.
B.
Measurements shall be made at established grade (ground level), with
the light-registering portion of the meter held parallel to the ground
pointing up. The meter shall have cosine and color correction and
have an accuracy tolerance of no greater than plus or minus 5%.
C.
Measurements shall be taken with a light meter that has been calibrated
within two years.
D.
The Development Administrator shall be responsible for enforcement
of the standards in this section.
