The purpose of this article is to regulate outdoor lighting
in a manner which encourages the conservation of energy, improves
or maintains the nighttime visual environment, prevents and/or eliminates
misdirected or excessive artificial light, light trespass and/or unnecessary
sky glow and protects the health, safety, security and welfare of
Township residents and the general public.
All outdoor light fixtures installed and thereafter maintained
shall comply with the requirements specified in this article. The
regulations and standards contained in this article shall apply to
1) outdoor lighting upon any property for which site plan review and
approval is required; and 2) the installation, alteration to and/or
the changing of outdoor lighting upon any residential property, including
single-family and multifamily dwelling units. All outdoor light fixtures
installed and thereafter maintained shall comply with the requirements
specified in this article.
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
DOWNWARD-AIMED LIGHT FIXTURE
A light fixture aiming no more than 60° in either direction
from the center of the lowest light-emitting point of the luminaire.
EXTERNALLY ILLUMINATED SIGN
A sign any face of which is illuminated by one or more artificial
light sources located between the reader and the sign face and directed
toward the sign face.
FLOODLIGHT
An unshielded artificial light source or lamp designed to
produce relatively uniform illumination across a broad area.
GLARE
The sensation produced by luminance within the visual field
that is sufficiently greater than the luminance to which the eyes
are adapted to cause annoyance, discomfort or loss in visual performance
and visibility.
IESNA
Illuminating Engineering Society of North America, an organization
that recommends standards for the lighting industry.
ILLUMINANCE
The total amount (density) of visible light incident upon
(i.e., illuminating) a point of a surface from all directions above
the surface measured in footcandles. (Note: The "surface" may be a
part, or all, of a physical object or an imaginary plane.)
INTERNALLY ILLUMINATED SIGN
A sign any face of which is opaque and illuminated by one
or more artificial light sources enclosed entirely within the sign
cabinet and not directly visible from any point outside of the sign
cabinet.
LAMP
A radiant light source; the replaceable, electrically powered
light source of a light fixture.
LIGHT SOURCE
A thing or object from which light originates. (Note: An
object that reflects light originating from a different object is
not a light source.)
LIGHT SPILLAGE
Light projected onto a property from an artificial light
source not located upon that property.
LIGHT TRESPASS
Any form of artificial illuminance emanating from a light fixture or illuminated sign that penetrates other property and creates a nuisance, as specified in §
185-130.
Light spillage not compliant with the requirements of this
article.
LIGHTING
The deliberate utilization of one or more artificial light
sources to achieve an aesthetic or intended effect.
LUMEN (abbreviated "lm")
A unit of measurement of luminous flux (i.e., of the total
amount of light emitted in all directions per unit time) within the
International System of Units.
LUMINAIRE
A self-contained lighting system component containing a light
fixture and, as necessary, an outer shell or housing, a mirror or
reflector, an aperture, a lens or refractor and a mounting bracket
or pole socket; within this article, the term "luminaire" shall refer
to outdoor lighting luminaires unless otherwise stated.
OBJECTIONABLE DIRECT GLARE SOURCE
Glare resulting from excessive levels of illumination or
insufficiently shielded light sources emanating from light fixtures
in the field of view where the lens, lamp or reflector is offensively
visible above a height of five feet at a property line or a public
roadway.
OUTDOOR LIGHTING
The lighting of areas exterior to the walls of enclosed buildings
and/or within structures having open or partially open walls, such
as canopies, pavilions, gazebos, etc.
SHIELDED LIGHT FIXTURE
A light fixture with cutoff optics that allows no direct
light emissions above a vertical cutoff angle of 90° from the
center of the luminaire facing straight down through the light fixture's
lowest light-emitting part. Any structural part of the light fixture
providing this cutoff angle must be permanently affixed.
SHIELDED LIGHT SOURCE
A light source which is positioned and/or equipped with light-shielding
devices so that it is not directly visible to any person distant 10
feet or more from the light source, or from any point upon or outside
of the property boundary.
SPOTLIGHT
An unshielded artificial light source or lamp designed to
produce a narrow, well-directed beam of light upon a small area.
TEMPORARY LIGHTING
Outdoor lighting which does not conform to the provisions
of this article and which will not be used for longer than a period
of 30 consecutive days; temporary lighting is intended for uses which,
by their nature, are of limited duration, such as holiday decorations,
civic events, or construction projects.
All light fixtures, except streetlighting maintained by a governmental
authority or that was part of an approved subdivision or site plan,
shall be designed, installed and maintained to prevent light trespass,
as specified below:
A. Outdoor light fixtures properly installed and thereafter maintained
shall be directed so that there will not be any direct glare source
visible from another property.
The use or installation of the following outdoor light fixtures
is prohibited:
A. Outdoor lighting fixtures for purposes of private, commercial or
industrial usage shall not be attached or mounted to public property
(i.e., public buildings, utility poles, telephone poles, streetlights,
road or street signs) or to any trees located within a public road
right-of-way.
B. No outdoor lighting fixtures for purposes of private, commercial
or industrial usage shall be erected within a public road right-of-way
unless approval is obtained from the Township Council.