[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the
Town of DeWitt 11-25-2002 by L.L. No. 8-2002. Amendments noted where
applicable.]
This Lighting Code is adopted for the purposes
of preserving, protecting and enhancing the lawful nighttime use and
enjoyment of nonresidential property in the Town of DeWitt through
the designation of reasonable standards regarding appropriate lighting
systems and equipment, their installation, and regular maintenance
practices applied thereto. It is intended to eliminate problems of
glare and light trespass and help reduce energy use of inappropriate
outdoor lighting while increasing the attractiveness of DeWitt at
night. Quality design and systems when combined with regular maintenance
of lighting equipment help to beautify property and neighborhoods;
make intended outdoor nighttime activity possible; aid public safety
and individual security; and control unnecessary glare and light trespass.
To minimize the cumulative effect of multiple properties casting artificial
outdoor light detrimental to the desirable nighttime environment of
neighboring properties, outdoor lighting shall serve to provide the
minimum illumination over the smallest areas of a site or object necessary
for the average-sighted person to accomplish the activity(s) or task(s)
for the property's intended legal use.
If a person, firm or corporation illuminates
or intends to illuminate the exterior of a property or a part thereof
or a structure located in the Town of DeWitt outside the Village of
East Syracuse for nonresidential use or for a multiple-family dwelling,
then this outdoor lighting code shall guide the selection, installation,
use, repair, alteration and maintenance of such lighting equipment
and systems.
The Planning Board shall prepare and, following
a public hearing, adopt such rules and regulations thereto in order
to carry out the spirit and intent of this code, provided the Town
Board approves the same by simple resolution. The Planning Board may
make recommendations to the Town Board regarding amendments to this
code.
[Amended 1-21-2015 by L.L. No. 1-2015]
Proposals for outdoor lighting exceeding the limits established herein shall first be submitted in abbreviated form to the Department for review and determination of a need for permit pursuant to the rules established by this code and Chapters 15 and 94 of the Town Code. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an applicant with nonconforming outdoor lighting who makes an application before the Planning Board on an unrelated issue shall not be required to submit an outdoor lighting plan or address the issue of outdoor lighting in any manner, and controlled site approval shall not be conditioned, when lighting is not being added, changed, altered, reduced or affected by the application, unless the Department has commenced or commences an action pursuant to § 117-7B of this code, regarding glare or light trespass.
A.
Criteria.
(1)
All outdoor lighting shall conform to the requirements
of this code.
(2)
The luminous surface of a luminaire shall, in general,
be horizontally mounted and aimed away from a property boundary so
as not to create glare or trespass.
(3)
A luminaire shall be of a design accepted by the Illumination
Engineering Society of North America, or IESNA, as a fully enclosed,
cutoff-style fixture with an integrally designed, fixed-connector
(no swivel) arm for post or wall mounting. Drop lens fixtures are
not acceptable.
(4)
Light intensity and uniformity shall be consistent
with this code, taking into account illumination of abutting properties.
(5)
Lighting designs and installations shall avoid glare
and light trespass to neighboring properties and shall not adversely
affect the character of these areas. The amount of illumination projected
onto an adjoining property shall not exceed 0.1 vertical footcandle
measured at ground level along the property line.
(6)
Power wiring shall be underground and internal to
the equipment and structure.
(7)
The Lighting Handbook of the IESNA shall be used as
a guide for lighting levels except as herein provided.
(8)
Users of outdoor lighting are encouraged to use automatic
switching devices to extinguish or reduce excessive lighting at times
when the need for such lighting diminishes.
(9)
The
maximum usage of LED light sources is encouraged and required as noted
herein.
[Added 1-21-2015 by L.L.
No. 1-2015]
B.
Installation and design guidelines.
[Added 7-12-2004]
(1)
Guidelines.
(a)
Section 117-15, Lighting Guidelines Chart, specifies the activity and minimum lighting levels that are appropriate for projects within the Town. Maximum and minimum light levels and color rendition values are shown in the Chart.
(b)
The color rendition index for all lighting shall
be 65 or greater, except at facilities with external ATMs where the
color rendition index shall not be less than 70. Industrial uses shall
have no minimum CRI unless it abuts a Residential District, in which
instance the CRI shall exceed 50.
(c)
Illumination at banks and facilities with an
external automated teller machine (ATM) shall be higher only in the
area of the ATM to conform to the then current New York State Banking
Law. Such higher light levels shall not be achieved by an increase
in light trespass or the creation of glare.
[Amended 1-21-2015 by L.L. No. 1-2015]
(d)
Illumination at motor vehicle fueling pump islands
and underneath a related canopy at service stations and convenience
stores shall have a minimum illuminance value not less than 1.0 FC
and not more than 1.5 FC. The uniformity ratio of 4:1 applied to the
minimum value shall yield an average illumination at the gas pump
and under any related canopy of 6.0 FC. The maximum illuminance value
shall not exceed 10.0 FC in the area of the fuel pump islands or under
such canopy. Areas beyond the canopy and pump islands used for passage
or parking shall be illuminated in accordance with the values for
service station and convenience store parking listed in the Lighting
Guidelines Chart.
(e)
All light fixtures on a site shall have the
same lamp type and CRI index.
(f)
Areas designated as exterior display/sales areas
shall be illuminated so that the average horizontal illuminance at
grade is no more than 5.0 FC. Lighting of these areas shall not be
used to attract attention to the business.
(g)
Freestanding sign lighting shall be internal
to the sign structure.
(h)
There shall be no lighting under awnings.
(i)
Exterior sports facilities shall submit a lighting
report and plan prepared by a qualified designer which clearly documents
the need and design parameters for the level of lighting desired.
(3)
Fixture heights.
(a)
Pole-mounted fixtures:
[1]
Fixture mounting heights above the paved grade adjacent to the pole for all pole-mounted lighting shall be as shown in the Lighting Guidelines Chart, § 117-15. In no event shall the maximum mounting height above the paved grade adjacent to the pole for a luminaire exceed 35 feet.
[2]
Notwithstanding the Lighting Guidelines Chart,
parking lot fixture mounting height shall not exceed the eave height
of the principal building in a project by more than five feet, except
no fixture shall be mounted less than 15 feet above the paved grade
adjacent to the pole.
[3]
Where any light fixture pole is located within
10 feet of a property line on a site, the maximum mounting height
for all pole-mounted luminaires on the site shall be 20 feet above
the grade adjacent to the pole.
(b)
Wall-mounted fixtures:
[1]
The maximum mounting height for wall-mounted
lighting shall not exceed 20 feet on all buildings, except industrial
where the maximum mounting height shall not exceed 25 feet subject
to the conditions noted below.
[2]
All wall-mounted lighting shall be coordinated
with a building's architecture and site lighting needs and shall in
all cases be mounted below the lowest eave line of any building roof.
[3]
Light fixtures shall not be mounted on building-mounted
poles or supports that extend above said eave line.
[4]
Wall-mounted fixtures intended to light doorways
shall be mounted a maximum of three feet above the door head.
(4)
Fixtures.
(a)
General.
(b)
Wall-mounted fixtures shall have a housing and
lens configuration that prevents direct view of the lamp through the
lens. The fixture housing shall cut off the light beam so that it
projects not more than 75° up from vertical.
(5)
The use of neon lighting is prohibited except as a
light source for internally lit signs.
(6)
Fixtures with an LED light source shall be utilized
for all parking area lighting. This includes all pole-mounted lighting.
Additionally, if parking lot lighting using building-mounted light
fixtures is allowed as part of the site plan review process, such
lighting fixtures shall utilize an LED light source. Fixtures mounted
under canopies over drive and access areas shall utilize an LED light
source resulting in a maximum five footcandles.
[Amended 1-21-2015 by L.L. No. 1-2015]
(7)
Mounting.
(a)
Wherever possible, light fixtures shall face
inward from the perimeter of a property and shall face toward the
structure.
(b)
Fixtures used for architectural lighting, e.g.,
facade, fountain, feature and landscape lighting, shall be aimed so
as not to project their output beyond the objects intended to be illuminated
and shall be extinguished between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and dawn.
(c)
Canopy light fixtures shall have a flat lens,
and the fixture shall be flush mounted with the soffit surface. Where
soffit lights may cause glare, the lowering of the edge of the canopy
to further shield the canopy lights shall be required.
(d)
Flood or spot lights shall be so installed or
aimed that they do not project their output into the window of a neighboring
property, an adjacent use, directly skyward or onto a roadway.
(e)
Lighting at service stations or convenience
stores shall not be mounted on the top or fascia of the canopy.
(8)
Site light bases.
(a)
Wherever possible, locate site light poles behind
curbing and/or in landscape or grass areas. Site light bases in such
areas shall have an exposed surface of three inches or less and shall
be placed not less than three feet from the protected edge, edge of
paving or within a curbed island.
(b)
Site light bases located in paved areas may
have up to 30 inches of concrete exposed.
(c)
Site light bases shall be poured concrete using
Kellamy 610R forms manufactured by ArtFORMS with silver metallic bands
on the exposed upper and lower accent bands or equals approved by
the Planning Board.
(9)
Lighting controls.
(a)
All lighting shall be controlled by automatic
switching devices such as timers, motion detectors, heat sensors or
photocells, to extinguish lighting between 10:00 p.m. (or 30 minutes
after closing if later) and dawn.
(b)
Where lighting is necessary beyond the times
specified in § 175-5B(9)(a) above, for safety or security,
the lighting intensity levels shall not exceed 50% of the levels normally
permitted by this ordinance, but in no case shall these be less than
specified by IESNA.
C.
Submission requirements. Proposals for outdoor lighting
shall include a separate plan dedicated to lighting. The lighting
plan shall include all intended lighting for the project, including
but not limited to canopy lights, wall-mounted fixtures, architectural
lighting and walkway lighting. Existing on-site lighting as well as
pertinent off-site lighting shall be shown on the drawings. Wall-mounted
light locations shall also be shown on building elevation drawings
submitted as part of the application. Lighting plans shall be submitted
at a readable scale appropriate to the size of the project but in
no case at a scale greater than one inch equals 40 feet.
[Added 7-12-2004]
(1)
Lighting values, in footcandles, shall be plotted
on the lighting drawing in a grid not greater than 25 feet by 25 feet.
Footcandle levels in a vertical plane at the site perimeter shall
also be provided. The footcandle values shall include all fixtures
on the site using a 75% maintenance factor.
(2)
Calculations for lighting on the site shall include
maximum FC, minimum FC, average FC and uniformity ratio. Average FC
calculation shall be based only on points within 10 feet of the edge
of the area to be lit and within the property lines. The average light
level is determined by adding the footcandle value of all the points
in the grid and dividing by the total number of points. The maintenance
factor used for lighting calculations shall be stated on the lighting
drawings.
(3)
Catalog cuts of the lighting fixtures shall include
glare reduction devices, lamps, lens type, control devices and manufacturer's
original copies of the fixture photometric data. Fixture cuts must
include designation of the fixture as IESNA "full cutoff" fixture
and include color rendering index (CRI) of all lamps. Should a substitute
for any lighting fixture approved by the Planning Board be selected,
catalog cuts with complete information for the substitute fixture
shall be submitted to the Planning Board for its approval prior to
the ordering and/or installation of same.
(4)
Lighting plans shall include a description of the
timers, dimmers and/or sensors to reduce overall energy consumption
and eliminate unneeded lighting along with the proposed hours of operation.
(5)
When requested by the Department, the lighting drawings
shall be certified by a professional engineer or architect specializing
in lighting design.
[Amended 1-21-2015 by L.L. No. 1-2015]
D.
No permit. No development permit is necessary, provided
the intended lighting meets the guidelines and general requirements
of this code.
E.
Permit and controlled site review. A development permit
and controlled site application must be submitted together with outdoor
lighting information for equipment and systems which exceed the limits
contained in this code.
The following applications of outdoor lighting
are hereby exempt from the provisions of this code:
A.
Hazard warning and emergency lighting by a governmental
entity;
B.
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) lighting requirements
applicable to Syracuse Hancock International Airport;
C.
Lighting required by the Town of DeWitt, Onondaga
County, state or federal office;
E.
All outdoor single- and two-family residential lighting.
A.
Outdoor lighting which has been subject to Planning Board review and approval and is in conformance with said approval prior to the enactment of this chapter shall be deemed to be conforming lighting and shall not be subject to this chapter, except that such lighting shall be subject to provisions of Subsection B(2), below.
B.
Glare and light trespass.
[Amended 1-21-2015 by L.L. No. 1-2015]
(1)
When a formal complaint is received by the Department,
the procedure outlined in "Codes Enforcement Complaint Policy: Department"
shall be followed.
(2)
In instances where lighting may pose a risk to travelers
along public roads due to glare, the Department may direct corrective
measures be taken by the owner or the person-in-charge, including
removal, disabling, or other corrective actions, as soon as possible.
Other lighting applications and uses not explicitly
addressed herein shall be controlled by this code, including but not
limited to such applications as sign, architectural, landscaping,
and sports facility lighting.
Flashing or moving lights whether associated
with a sign are prohibited along with general area lighting, floodlighting
or spotlights which produce excess glare or trespass. All lights and
associated equipment not specifically permitted in this code are prohibited
unless appropriate level of approval is first obtained.
The Zoning Board of Appeals shall hear appeals
for exceptions and interpretations to this chapter as may be necessary.
[Amended 1-21-2015 by L.L. No. 1-2015]
This code shall be enforced by the Department.
In the event of glare or light trespass and upon the filing of a formal
complaint, written notice shall be given to the owner or person-in-charge
relative to the infraction and the recourse available.
A violation of this chapter shall be an offense
punishable by a fine not to exceed $200 or by imprisonment for a period
not to exceed 10 days, or both. Failure to comply may result in prosecution
and freezing of a subsequent permit(s) for the subject property until
conformance with this code is achieved.
This code shall supersede all other codes. In
cases of conflict, the more restrictive code shall govern.
[Added 7-12-2004]
As used in this chapter, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
A measure of the degree of color shift objects undergo when
illuminated by the light source as compared with those same objects
when illuminated by a reference source of comparable color temperature.
Generally, a higher CRI value indicates greater color clarity.
The word “Department” means the Town of DeWitt
Department of Planning and Zoning.
[Added 1-21-2015 by L.L.
No. 1-2015]
The mounting height of a fixture shall be measured from the
paved grade adjacent to the pole to the top of the light fixture including
any base height.
Full cutoff fixtures shall have zero light intensity at an
angle of 90° above vertical and at all angles greater than 90°
above vertical. Additionally, the lumens per 1,000 lamp lumens shall
not exceed 100 (10%) at an angle of 80°.
An exposed lamp fixture designed to light a scene or object
to a luminance greater than its surroundings.
A measure of light falling on a given surface. One footcandle
(one FC) is equal to the amount of light generated by one candle shining
on a square foot surface one foot away. Unless otherwise noted, footcandle
readings are taken at ground level. (In this code, all uses of the
term footcandles are calculated using the maintenance factor noted
below).
The average density of light on an area to be illuminated
in footcandles calculated using a set of grid points, 75% maintenance
factor and their corresponding luminance values.
The maximum lighting level in footcandles allowed on an area
to be illuminated. The maximum footcandle value is determined using
a 75% maintenance factor.
The lowest recommended light level consistent with the seeing
task desired for the area to be illuminated. The minimum footcandle
value is determined using a 75% maintenance factor.
The sensation produced by luminance within the visual field
that is sufficiently greater than the luminance to which the eye is
adapted so as to cause annoyance, discomfort or loss in visual performance
or visibility.
A measure of light energy generated by a light source.
Composed of the intensity of light striking an object or
surface and the amount of light reflected back toward the eye. All
surfaces have some reflecting qualities and therefore have luminance;
light surfaces being more reflective than dark surfaces.
A measurement of the decrease in lumen output of a light
fixture that occurs with the passage of time due to several factors,
including lamp depreciation and lens cleanliness. The maintenance
factor used in this code is 75%.
The lowest acceptable lighting level, in footcandles, consistent with the seeing of a task for which lighting is necessary. Such minimum levels are specified in § 117-15, Lighting Guidelines Chart.
The lowest point of a sphere.
A constant used to determine the maximum average luminance
value allowed for lighting an area. The maximum average luminance
value is equal to the product of the minimum recommended lighting
value and the uniformity ratio. It is intended to minimize the differences
in overly light or dark areas to produce more uniform lighting on
a site.
[1]
Editor's Note: The chart is included as an attachment to this chapter.
