[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Watervliet Charter Township 10-21-2002 by Ord. No. 70 (Ch. 20.400 of the Compilation of Ordinances). Amendments noted where applicable.]
The purpose of this chapter is to regulate the placement and arrangement of lighting within the Township. This chapter is intended to:
A. 
Protect the public health safety and general welfare.
B. 
Enable the fair and consistent enforcement of this chapter.
C. 
Control light spillover and glare.
D. 
Encourage lighting systems which conserve energy and costs.
E. 
Preserve community character.
F. 
Provide for nighttime safety, utility, security and productivity.
Lighting arrangements shall be arranged in the following manner:
A. 
To avoid light spillover onto any adjacent premises.
B. 
So that light from any illuminated source shall be so shaded, shielded or directed that the light intensity or brightness will not be reasonably objectionable to surrounding areas.
C. 
To control illumination of vertical architectural surfaces.
All outdoor lighting upon any premises, regardless of zoning district, shall be subject to the following conditions and limitations:
A. 
Site and area lighting shall be designed such that light levels do not exceed one footcandle at any point along the perimeter of the property.
B. 
Pole-mounted light fixtures used for site and area lighting shall be subject to the following design guidelines:
(1) 
Pole-mounted lighting with a pole height of 15 feet or less shall not exceed 175 watts per lamp regardless of lamp type. The light shall be so shaded, shielded or directed that the light intensity or brightness will not be reasonably objectionable to surrounding areas.
(2) 
Pole-mounted lighting with a pole height of greater than 15 feet and not exceeding 35 feet in height shall be a down-type, mounted horizontally and angled perpendicular to the ground (Illuminating Engineering Society of North America, IES, sharp cutoff). Such lighting shall not exceed 400 watts per lamp.
(3) 
Pole-mounted lighting with a pole height exceeding 35 feet shall be a down-type, mounted horizontally and angled perpendicular to the ground (IES sharp cutoff) and shall be subject to Township approval. Such lighting shall not exceed 400 watts per lamp.
C. 
Building-mounted lighting fixtures shall not exceed 175 watts per lamp regardless of lamp type and shall not exceed a mounting height of 15 feet.
D. 
The illumination of building exteriors shall not exceed the recommended footcandle levels set forth by the IES, not to exceed 20 footcandles.
E. 
Landscape light fixtures, including ground lighting for signs, flag poles and statues, shall not exceed 175 watts per lamp and shall be equipped with shields or shutters to help eliminate glare. There shall be no more than two lamps producing light for signs, flag poles or statues.
F. 
There shall be no lighting of a blinking, flashing, rotating or fluttering nature, including changes in light intensity, brightness or color, except for public safety purposes. Beacons and/or search lights shall not be permitted except for public safety purposes. Temporary seasonal/holiday lighting is not prohibited by this subsection.
G. 
A site lighting plan for uses requiring site plan review in accordance with Chapter 450, Zoning, Article XII, Site Plan Requirements, shall be submitted and shall provide the following information:
(1) 
Proposed location on premises of all outdoor light fixtures.
(2) 
Description of illumination devices, fixtures, lamps, supports, reflectors and other devices (e.g., fixture type, mounting height, wattage).
(3) 
Photometric data of illumination cast on horizontal surfaces. Vertical photometric data may be required.
(4) 
Illumination level for all building, vertical architectural and landscaping lighting proposed.
H. 
For uses requiring site plan review, lighting shall be significantly reduced during nonoperational building hours, allowing only lighting necessary for security purposes. The lighting plan submitted for review shall note where this distinction occurs.
I. 
The Watervliet Township Board may waive or revise any requirement of this chapter which, in its judgment, would cause unnecessary hardship to the applicant.
Outdoor light fixtures installed prior to the effective date of this chapter are exempt from the provisions of this chapter; provided, however, that when there is any change in the use or any replacement, structural alteration or restoration of such outdoor light fixture, then the fixture shall thereafter conform to all provisions of this chapter.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II)]
Any person who violates any portion of this chapter or fails to comply with any of its requirements shall, upon conviction thereof, be fined not more than $500 or imprisoned for not more than 90 days, or both. Each day such violation continues shall be considered a separate offense.