Lighting shall be required in subdivisions and land developments. These lighting requirements provide appropriate standards to ensure adequate nighttime safety and security while minimizing the spillover of light and glare on operators of motor vehicles, pedestrians and land uses near the light source. The Comprehensive Plan recognizes that proper lighting design is an instrument for preserving rural character or creating a sense of place within developments. However, it is the safety, welfare, nuisance and hazardous aspects of lighting that form the basis of these regulations.
A. Requirements. Exterior lighting shall be provided in parking areas, pedestrian sidewalks and walkways and nonresidential driveway intersections in accordance with the following standards. Lighting used for security purposes shall also conform to the following standards. These regulations permit an option of providing a lower light post for luminaries with a no-cutoff design or a higher pole, up to 60 feet, for luminaries that totally cut off light spillover at a cutoff angle smaller than 90°. The maximum height light post permitted shall be dependent upon the amount of cutoff provided. Exterior lighting shall meet one of the following standards:
(1) When the light source or luminaire has no cutoff:
| | Maximum Permitted Average Illumination (footcandles) | Maximum Permitted Height of Luminaire (feet) |
|---|
| Residential | 0.2 | 10 feet |
| Nonresidential | 0.3 | 2 feet |
(2) When a luminaire has a total cutoff angle greater than 90°, the maximum illumination and the maximum permitted luminaire height shall be:
| Zoning District | Maximum Permitted Average Illumination (footcandles) | Maximum Permitted Height of Luminaire (feet) |
|---|
| C — Conservation | 0.3 | 15 |
| RC — Residential Country | 0.5 | 20 |
| R-1 — Low Density Residential | 0.5 | 20 |
| R-2 — Medium Density Residential | 0.75 | 25 |
| R-3 — High Density Residential | 0.75 | 25 |
| R-4 — Residential Urban | 1.5 | 35 |
| BOR — Business, Office, Residential | 1.5 | 35 |
| MU-1 — Mixed Use Corridor — High Density District | 1.5 | 35 |
| MU-2 — Mixed Use Corridor — Special Purpose District | 1.5 | 35 |
| COL — Commercial Office Limited | 1.5 | 35 |
| CN — Commercial Neighborhood | 1.5 | 35 |
| CH — Commercial Highway | 1.5 | 35 |
| IG — Industrial General | 2.0 | 40 |
(3) When a luminaire has a total cutoff of light at an angle less than 90° and is located so that the bare light bulb, lamp, or light source is completely shielded from the direct view of an observer five feet above the ground at the point where the cutoff angle intersects the ground, then the maximum permitted illumination and maximum permitted height at the luminaire shall be as follows.
| Zoning District | Maximum Permitted Average Illumination (footcandles) | Maximum Permitted Height of Luminaire (feet) |
|---|
| C — Conservation | 0.5 | 20 |
| RC — Residential Country | 1.0 | 25 |
| R-1 — Low Density Residential | 1.0 | 25 |
| R-2 — Medium Density Residential | 1.5 | 30 |
| R-3 — High Density Residential | 1.5 | 30 |
| R-4 — Residential Urban | 2.0 | 35 |
| BOR — Business, Office, Residential | 2.0 | 35 |
| MU-1 — Mixed Use Corridor — High Density District | 2.0 | 35 |
| MU-2 — Mixed Use Corridor — Special Purpose District | 2.0 | 35 |
| COL — Commercial Office Limited | 2.0 | 35 |
| CH — Commercial Neighborhood | 3.0 | 40 |
| CH — Commercial Highway | 3.0 | 40 |
| IG — Industrial General | 5.0 | 60 |
(4) Exemption for Specified Uses.
(a) Because of their unique requirements for nighttime visibility and their limited hours of operation, public and private recreational uses such as ball diamonds, playing fields, tennis courts and volleyball courts are exempt from the above requirements.
(b) Outdoor public and private recreational uses specified above shall not exceed a maximum permitted post height of 80 feet.
(c) Outdoor public and private recreational uses may exceed a total cutoff angle of 90°, provided that the luminaire is shielded to prevent light and glare spillover to adjacent residential uses. The maximum permitted illumination at the interior buffer yard line shall not exceed two footcandles.
(d) Low-level pedestrian lighting for sidewalks should be provided as necessary for safety. Low-level sidewalk illumination for nonresidential uses shall be between 0.5 to 0.10 footcandles. Low-level sidewalk illumination for residential uses shall be between 0.2 to 0.13 footcandles.
(5) Additional requirements.
(a) Flickering or flashing lights shall not be permitted.
(b) Light sources or luminaires shall not be located within buffer yard areas except for pedestrian walkways.
(c) The location and type of lighting required by this Section shall be shown on the site plan submitted for development.
(d) Low-level pedestrian lighting for sidewalks should be provided as necessary for safety. Low-level sidewalk illumination for nonresidential uses shall be between 0.5 to 1.0 footcandles. Low-level sidewalk illumination for residential uses shall be between 0.2 and 0.3 footcandles.
(6) Exterior lighting, except for overhead streetlighting and warning, emergency, or traffic signals, shall be installed in such a manner that the light source will be sufficiently obscured to prevent glare on public streets and walkways or into any residential area. The installation or erection of any lighting which may be confused with warning signals, emergency signals or traffic signals shall be unlawful. Any lighting that produces glare shall not cause illumination in excess of five-tenths footcandles measured at the property line.
(a) Measurement. Lighting levels shall be measured in footcandles. Measurement shall be taken with a direct reading portable light meter or light-reading equipment recommended by the Township Engineer.
(b) Method. Readings shall be taken by qualified personnel so that the light-reading meter has been exposed long enough to provide a constant reading. Measurements shall be made after dark with the light sources in question on, then with the same sources off. The difference between the two readings shall be compared to the maximum permitted illumination at the property line at ground level. This procedure eliminates the effects of moonlight and other ambient light.