These standards are established for the following purposes:
A.
To regulate exterior lighting in order to avoid unsafe and unpleasant
conditions as the result of poorly designed or installed exterior
lighting.
B.
To implement the light and energy conservation policies of the Comprehensive
Plan.
C.
To discourage excessive lighting.
D.
To regulate the type of light fixtures, lamps and standards.
E.
To protect residential zones from the ill effects associated with
nonresidential and multifamily exterior lighting.
F.
To create a safe environment during hours of darkness.
G.
To avoid excessive lighting in order to protect the Borough's
natural resource of a dark night sky.
A.
When an exterior lighting installation is part of a new development
proposal requiring a site plan review, a permitted use application
or a conditional use application, the Borough shall review and approve
the lighting design as part of the permitting process.
B.
These regulations do not apply to single-family or duplex dwelling
uses.
C.
These regulations do not apply to public right-of-way and shall not
conflict with PennDOT or Borough street light standards and design
criteria.
D.
These regulations do not apply to lighting necessary for emergency
equipment and work conducted in the interests of law enforcement or
for the safety, health, or welfare of the community.
A.
Site lighting trespass onto adjacent residential zones shall be minimized.
B.
Site lighting shall minimize light spill into the dark night sky.
C.
Where practical, exterior lighting installations shall include timers,
dimmers, sensors, or photocell controllers that turn the lights off
during daylight hours or hours when lighting is not needed, to reduce
overall energy consumption and eliminate unneeded lighting.
D.
Exterior lighting installations shall be designed to avoid harsh
contrasts in lighting levels.
E.
Fixtures and lighting systems used for safety and security shall
be in good working order and shall be maintained in a manner that
serves the original design intent of the system.
F.
Vegetation and landscaping shall be maintained in a manner that does
not obstruct security lighting and minimizes possible entrapment spaces.
G.
The applicant shall submit to the Borough sufficient information,
in the form of an overall exterior lighting plan, to enable a determination
that the applicable provisions will be satisfied. The exterior lighting
plan shall include at least the following:
(1)
Manufacturer specification sheets, cut sheets or other manufacturer,
provided information for all proposed lighting fixtures.
(2)
The proposed location, mounting height, and aiming point of
all exterior lighting fixtures.
(3)
If building elevations are proposed for illumination, drawings
shall be provided for all relevant building elevations showing the
fixtures, the portions of the elevations to be illuminated, the illuminance
levels of the elevations, and the aiming point for any remote light
fixture.
(4)
If needed to review proposed exterior lighting installations,
the Borough may request additional information following the initial
lighting plan submittal, such as:
(a)
A brief written narrative, with accompanying plan or sketch,
which demonstrates the objectives of the lighting.
(b)
Photometric data, color rendering index (CRI) of all lamps (bulbs),
and other descriptive information on the fixtures, and if applicable
or required, designation as Illuminating Engineering Society of North
America (IESNA) "cutoff" fixtures.
(c)
Computer generated photometric grid showing footcandle readings
every 10 feet within the property or site, and 10 feet beyond the
property lines at a scale specified by the Zoning Officer. Iso-footcandle
contour-line-style plans are also acceptable.
(d)
Landscaping information that indicates mature tree size, shrubbery
and other vegetation in order to evaluate the long-term and seasonal
effectiveness of lighting or screening of lighting.
For exterior lighting installations and fixtures within 50 feet
of any residential zones, the following requirements shall apply:
A.
Lighting fixtures shall be no higher than 15 feet above grade.
B.
Lighting fixtures shall be aimed and shielded in a manner that shall
not direct illumination on adjacent residential zones. Fixtures should
be of a type or adequately shielded so as to prevent glare from normal
viewing angles.
C.
Where feasible, additional landscaping or buffers may be required in accord with § 300-59 to provide light screening between commercial zones and residential zones to help prevent light trespass. Where landscaping is used for light screening, the Borough shall take into consideration the applicable landscaping standards found elsewhere in these regulations, the design standards found elsewhere in these regulations, the creation of excessive shadows or dark spaces, and views into and out of a site.
D.
The height restrictions of Subsection A above shall not apply to lighting used to illuminate outdoor performance areas, sport and recreation facilities, and playfields, except where such lighting fixtures are located within 50 feet of the property line of a residential use or vacant residential lot. Lighting of outdoor performance areas, sport and recreation facilities, and playfields shall also meet the standards in § 300-127.
A.
Open-air parking lots shall comply with the standards of this section
in addition to the other requirements of this article.
B.
Open-air parking lot lighting shall be designed to provide adequate
vision, comfort and safety.
C.
Open-air parking lot lighting shall be designed to provide for uniform
lighting throughout the facility with no dark patches or pockets.
D.
Open-air parking lot lighting shall be designed to provide a minimum
value of lighting necessary for the safety and identification of features.
E.
Open-air parking lot lighting shall not cause direct illumination
on adjacent and nearby properties or streets. Fixtures should be of
a type or adequately shielded so as to prevent glare from normal viewing
angles.
F.
In order to direct light downward and minimize the amount of light spilled into the dark night sky, all lighting fixtures serving open-air parking lots, except as allowed in Subsection G, shall be full cutoff fixtures as defined by the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA).
Example of Full Cutoff Luminaire
|
G.
The Borough may allow an exception to full cutoff fixtures in order
to achieve a particular "period" or architectural style of lighting
that is mutually beneficial to the applicant and the Borough, provided
that:
H.
The following mounting height regulations shall apply to open-air
parking lot lighting fixtures. Mounting height shall be measured as
the vertical distance between the parking surface and the bottom of
the lighting fixture.
I.
The table below establishes open-air parking lot lighting standards1.
|
Standard
| ||
|---|---|---|
|
Minimum on pavement2
|
0.2 footcandle
| |
|
Maximum on pavement
|
4.0 footcandle
| |
|
Maximum at property line
|
0 footcandle
| |
|
Uniformity ratio
Maximum: minimum3
|
20:1
| |
|
Minimum at 5 feet above pavement4
|
0.1 footcandle
|
|
NOTES:
| ||
|---|---|---|
|
1
|
For typical conditions. During periods of non-use, the illuminance
of certain parking facilities should be turned off or reduced to conserve
energy. If reduced lighting is to be used only for the purpose of
property security, it is desirable that the minimum (low point) value
not be less than 0.1 footcandle. Reductions should not be applied
to facilities subject to intermittent night use, such as at apartments,
hospitals and transportation terminals.
| |
|
2
|
Measured on the parking surface, without any shadowing effect
from parked vehicles or trees at points of measurement.
| |
|
3
|
The highest horizontal illuminance point at grade, divided by
the lowest horizontal illuminance point or area should not be greater
than the values shown.
| |
|
4
|
Measured at 1.5 meters (5.0 feet) above parking surface at the
point of the lowest horizontal illuminance, excluding facing outward
along boundaries.
| |
A.
Lighting of such areas shall not be used to attract attention to
the business. Signs allowed under the appropriate section of these
regulations shall be used for that purpose.
B.
Lighting levels shall be adequate to facilitate the activities taking
place in such locations.
C.
In order to minimize the extent of direct glare, light fixtures mounted
on canopies shall be recessed so that the lens cover is recessed or
flush with the bottom surface (ceiling) of the canopy or shielded
by the fixture or the edge of the canopy so that light is restrained
to 85° or less from vertical. The figure below, entitled "Recessed
Fixture," illustrates this.
|
Recessed Fixture
|
|---|
 |
D.
As an alternative (or supplement) to recessed ceiling lights, indirect
lighting may be used where light is beamed upward and then reflected
down from the underside of the canopy. When this method is used, light
fixtures must be shielded so that direct illumination is focused exclusively
on the underside of the canopy.
E.
Lights shall not be mounted on the top or sides (fascias) of the
canopy. The sides (fascias of the canopy) shall not be illuminated
in a manner other than that prescribed under the section of these
regulations regulating signs.
F.
Areas around service station pump islands shall be illuminated so
that the minimum horizontal illuminance at grade level is at least
1.0 footcandle and no more than 5.0 footcandles. The uniformity ratio
(average illumination to minimum illumination) shall be no greater
than 4:1.
A.
Lighting levels for outdoor performance areas, sport and recreation
facilities, and playfields shall not exceed by more than 5% the Illuminating
Engineering Society of North America (IESNA) published standards for
the proposed activity.
B.
Where playing fields or other special activity areas are to be illuminated,
lighting fixtures shall be mounted, aimed and shielded so that their
beams fall within the primary playing area and immediate surroundings,
and so that no direct illumination is directed off the site.
C.
The main lighting shall be turned off as soon as possible following
the end of the event. The main lighting shall not remain on longer
than 30 minutes following the end of the event. Where feasible, a
low-level lighting system shall be used to facilitate patrons leaving
the facility, cleanup, nighttime maintenance and other closing activities.
The low-level lighting system shall provide an average horizontal
illumination level at grade of no more than 3.0 footcandles, with
a uniformity ratio (average illumination to minimum illumination)
not exceeding 4:1.
A.
Fixtures used to accent architectural features, materials, colors,
style of buildings, or art shall be located, aimed and shielded so
that light is directed only on those features. Such fixtures shall
be aimed or shielded so as to minimize light spill into the dark night
sky. The Borough may allow exceptions to this provision if minimal
light escapes into the dark night sky or onto adjacent properties.
B.
Lighting fixtures shall not generate excessive light levels, cause
glare, or direct light beyond the facade onto neighboring property,
streets or the night sky.
C.
The maximum illumination of any vertical surface or angular roof
surface in dark surroundings shall not exceed three footcandles.
D.
The maximum illumination of any vertical surface or angular roof
surface in light surroundings shall not exceed five footcandles.
E.
Flags of the United States or Pennsylvania may be illuminated from
below, provided such lighting is focused primarily on the individual
flag or flags so as to limit light trespass and spill into the dark
night sky.
Illumination of landscaping shall utilize diffused or muted
lighting, avoid glare, and minimize light trespass and escape beyond
landscaping onto neighboring property, streets, or the night sky.
