This article establishes minimum criteria for the installation,
use and maintenance of outdoor lighting.
(Ordinance O-04-17 adopted 5/2/17)
The purpose of the lighting standards is to:
(1)
Preserve and enhance the lawful nighttime use and enjoyment of property;
(2)
Protect drivers and pedestrians on nearby travel ways from disabling
glare from nonvehicular light sources that shine directly into their
eyes, thereby, impairing safe travel;
(3)
Shield neighboring properties from nuisance glare and trespass resulting
from improperly directed or unshielded light sources;
(4)
Prevent and/or lessen light pollution;
(5)
Promote efficient design and operation with regard to energy conservation;
and
(6)
Curtail the degradation of the nighttime visual environment.
(Ordinance O-04-17 adopted 5/2/17)
The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article,
shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where
the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
The chief building official for the City of Glenn Heights,
or his or her designee, having responsibility to enforce and administer
this article.
The source of electric light. To be distinguished from the
whole assembly, lamp is used to denote the bulb and its housing.
The unit of luminous intensity in a given direction. It is
commonly called one candlepower.
A fixture that provides a cutoff (shielding) of the light
emitted.
One that scatters light substantially in all directions as
contrasted with a directional luminaire which confines its light principally
in an angle of less than 180 degrees.
The assembly that holds the lamp in a lighting system. It
includes the elements designed to give light output control, such
as a reflector (mirror) or defractor (lens), the ballast, housing
and the attachment parts.
A luminaire designed to project its light in a well-defined
area. It is directional in character.
The angular spread of light between two orthogonal planes
each of which equal ten percent of the maximum candlepower within
the beam.
The amount of illumination provided by one lumen uniformly
distributed on one square foot of surface.
The luminance of a surface uniformly emitting, transmitting,
or reflecting one lumen per square foot of surface.
A fixture that allows no emission above a horizontal plane
through the fixture.
Light fixtures that are constructed so all light rays emitted
by the fixture are projected below the horizontal plane passing through
the lowest point on the fixture from which light is emitted, nearly
100 percent cut-off type, as evidenced by the manufacturer’s
photometric data.
Direct lighting emitted from a luminary that causes reduced
vision or temporary blindness.
A high intensity discharge lamp where radiation is produced
from sodium vapor at relatively high partial pressures (100 tore).
HPS is essentially point source light.
A line horizontal to the lowest point on the fixture from
which light is emitted.
The density of the luminous flux (lumens) incident on a surface.
It is the quotient of the luminous flux divided by the area of the
surface, expressed in footcandles.
Any lamp that produces light by heating a filament through
use of an electric current.
The attachment, or assembly fixed in place, whether or not
connected to a power source, or any outdoor light fixture.
A unit of energy equal to the work done by one kilowatt (1,000
watts) of power acting for one hour.
A device (such as a lamp) which produces visible energy as
distinguished from devices or bodies which reflect or transmit light
such as a luminaire.
Light falling outside the boundary of property for which
it was originally intended or needed. Also referred to as spillover
light or obtrusive light.
A discharge lamp where the light is produced by radiation
from sodium vapor at a relatively low partial pressure (about 0.001
tore). LPS is a “tube source” monochromatic light.
The quantity of luminous flux intercepted by a surface of
one square foot, all points of which are one foot from a uniform source
of one candela. A one-candela source provides 12.57 lumens.
The device or fixture containing a light source and means
for directing and controlling the distribution of light from the source.
The luminous intensity per unit projected area of a given
surface viewed from a given direction; for purposes of this article
expressed in candelas divided by distance squared.
A high intensity discharge lamp where light is produced by
radiation from mercury vapor.
A high intensity discharge lamp where light is produced by
radiation from metal halide vapor.
An outdoor artificial illumination device, whether permanent
or portable, used for illumination outdoors and shall include but
not be limited to devices used for search, spot, flood and area lighting
for buildings and structures, recreational facilities, parking areas,
landscape lighting, outdoor advertising displays, billboards, signs,
public and private street lighting and walkway lighting.
Shielding so that the lower edge of the shield is at or below
the centerline of the light source or lamp so as to minimize light
transmission above the horizontal plane, or at least 90 percent of
the emitted light projects below the horizontal plane as evidenced
by the manufacturer’s photometric data.
Quantitative measurements of light levels and distribution.
A physical structure intended to restrict emitted light.
Any change to the lamp or bulb that alters the lighting properties
of the site, or any change in the type, style or orientation of a
light fixture.
(Ordinance O-04-17 adopted 5/2/17)
The lighting standards for the city shall apply to all new construction
except as follows:
(1)
Outdoor lighting that lawfully exists as of the date of this article
shall be deemed a lawful use. Any substantial change or addition to
the existing lighting system, as determined by the building official,
shall comply with the provisions of this article. If a site substantially
changes more than 25 percent of the lighting on a site or adds new
lighting that increases the number of light fixtures by more than
25 percent, the entire site shall comply with the provisions of this
ordinance.
(2)
Commercial sites approved as part of a site plan prior to the ordinance
from which this article is derived shall conform to the provisions
in place at that time. Any substantial change or addition to the existing
lighting system shall, as determined by the building official, comply
with the provisions of this section. If a site substantially changes
more than 25 percent of the lighting on a site or adds new lighting
that increases the number of light fixtures by more than 25 percent,
the entire site shall comply with the provisions of this article.
(3)
If a use with existing, nonconforming lighting shall cease operation
for a period of more than 18 months, then such nonconforming lighting
shall be deemed permanently abandoned. The lighting on such site shall
be brought into conformance with the provisions of this article prior
to the redevelopment or reuse of the site.
(4)
The following uses shall be exempt from the requirements of this
section:
(A)
Lighting used for single-family homes and accessory buildings, provided
no measurable light spills over to the adjacent property;
(B)
Lighting specifically directed at a flag may be unshielded and unfiltered
provided that the beam spread is limited to a narrow spot (approximately
seven (7) degrees) and the fixture aperture is concealed by a matrix
grid to limit glare;
(C)
Lighting of baseball fields, softball fields, football fields, soccer
fields, golf courses and golf driving ranges, and other similar sporting
venues shall be exempt from the height and shielding requirements;
(D)
Lighting of baseball fields, softball fields, football fields, soccer
fields, golf courses and golf driving ranges, and other similar sporting
venues, shall be allowed to exceed the maximum illumination level
of forty (40) footcandles until 11:00 p.m. No outdoor recreational
facility, public or private, shall be illuminated after 11:00 p.m.
except to conclude any recreational or sporting event or other activity
concluded at a ball park, outdoor amphitheatre, arena, or similar
facility in progress prior to 11:00 p.m.;
(E)
Automobile dealerships are allowed a maximum illumination level of
fifty (50) footcandles at display areas until 11:00 p.m.;
(F)
Lighting necessary for construction or emergencies is exempt from
the provisions of this article, provided said lighting is temporary
and is discontinued immediately upon completion of the construction
work or abatement of the emergency necessitating said lighting;
(G)
Searchlights require a temporary exemption approval as provided below;
(H)
Navigation and airport lighting required by the Federal Aviation
Administration for operation of airplanes;
(I)
Lighting installed by a governmental agency for public benefit on
public rights-of-way, parks, and public recreation areas;
(J)
Temporary exemptions to the requirements of this article may be granted
by the planning department upon finding that the exemption does not
violate any provisions of land use or overlay districts, and it would
not pose a hardship on any adjacent property or use. Such requests
shall be submitted in writing to the development review committee
and include the following:
(K)
For street lighting within the public right-of-way, the development
review committee may approve an alternate type of lighting not otherwise
provided in this article if he or she finds that the proposed design,
material or method:
(Ordinance O-04-17 adopted 5/2/17)
(a)
As part of any site plan application or prior to altering any existing
lighting, the applicant shall submit evidence that the proposed work
will comply with this article. The submission shall contain, but is
not be limited to, the following:
(1)
Plans indicating the location on the premises, and the type of illuminating
devices, fixtures, lamps, supports, reflectors and other devices,
and the mounting height of the light;
(2)
Description of the illuminating devices, fixtures, lamps, supports,
reflectors and other devices shall include, but is not limited to,
catalog cuts by manufacturers and drawings; and
(3)
Photometric plans showing illumination levels on the property, at
the property line and just beyond the property line, as well as other
data such as that furnished by manufacturers or similar data showing
the angle of cutoff for light emissions.
(b)
The required plans, description, and data provided shall be sufficient
to enable the plans examiner to readily determine whether compliance
with the requirements of this article will be secured.
(Ordinance O-04-17 adopted 5/2/17)
(a)
Metering equipment.
Lighting levels shall be measured
in footcandles with a direct reading, portable light meter. The meter
shall read within an accuracy of plus or minus five percent. It shall
have been tested and calibrated by an independent commercial photometric
laboratory or the manufacturer within one year of the date of use
as attested to by a certificate issued by such laboratory.
(b)
Method of measurement.
The meter sensor shall be mounted
or held not more than six inches above ground level in a horizontal
position. Readings shall be taken only after the cell has been exposed
to provide a constant reading. Measurements shall be made when the
National Weather Service indicates visibility is six miles or greater
such that measurements will not be adversely affected by atmospheric
scatter. Measurements shall be made at least one hour after sunset
or one hour prior to sunrise with the existing questioned light sources
on, then with the same sources off. The difference between the two
readings shall be compared to the limitations stated by this section.
This procedure eliminates the effects of moonlight and other ambient
light. However, if lighting levels comply with the light sources on
then no further reading is needed with the light sources off to demonstrate
compliance.
(c)
Computation of illumination.
Illumination at a point
may be computed in lieu of measurement. Computation methods shall
consist of an Illumination Engineering Society of North America accepted
method, using certified photometric data furnished by the fixture
manufacturer, lamp manufacturer, photometric laboratory, or other
reliable authority satisfactory to the city. Computations shall be
based on new, properly seasoned lamps, new and clean fixtures, and
at rated voltage and wattage, with ballasts, lenses, shields, diffusers,
and other appurtenances in place, and with proper regard taken for
mounting height, relative elevation, natural and man-made objects
and industry standard maintenance factors.
(Ordinance O-04-17 adopted 5/2/17)
(a)
Maximum illumination level for on-site lighting is twenty (20) footcandles
as measured at grade, based on light loss factor of sixty-eight percent
(0.68) for metal halide lighting and seventy-two percent (0.72) for
high pressure sodium lighting.
(b)
All minimum illumination guidelines listed in this article should
be maintained from the ground level to a height of six (6) feet. The
minimum to maximum uniformity ratio may range up to 6:1 in acceptable
layouts.
(c)
The lighting levels specified are the minimum levels that are typically
acceptable. In some circumstances, customer convenience, closed-circuit
television, and customer attraction may require a higher level of
lighting. In addition, demographics, the crime index and other factors
particular to a certain geographic area may require a higher level
of lighting than listed below.
(d)
Limitations on neighboring property.
The limit of illumination
on neighboring property from one establishment shall be based on the
zoning of the neighboring property. Maximum computed maintained and
maximum measured footcandles at the neighboring property lines shall
not exceed:
(1)
Single-family and two-family residential districts: 0.25 footcandles.
(2)
Multifamily residential districts: 0.5 footcandles.
(3)
Nonresidential districts (excluding industrial): 3.0 footcandles.
(4)
Rights-of-way and private streets: 3.0 footcandles.
(5)
Retail and commercial districts: 4.0 footcandles.
Exception. Illumination at interior property
lines on contiguous lots in a multitenant nonresidential development
may exceed the above criteria when necessary to provide constant lighting
levels of adjoining parking areas, fire lanes and interior access
roadways as determined by the director of community development.
(e)
Limitations on subject property.
The maximum outdoor
maintained computed and measured illumination level on the subject
property shall not exceed 20 footcandles at any point, with the following
exceptions:
(f)
Hours of operation.
(1)
Lighting used for the illumination of outdoor sales and eating areas,
on-site advertising, assembly areas, repair areas, and businesses
may be operated during the hours that the facilities are open to the
public;
(2)
Lighting used for the illumination of recreational and sporting areas
shall be turned off by 11:00 p.m. on Sunday through Thursday and by
12:00 midnight on Friday and Saturday; and
(3)
Lighting used for the illumination of walkways, roadways, equipment
yards, parking areas and outdoor security may be operated any time.
(a)
Building mounted light fixtures shall be attached only to walls and
the top of the fixture shall not be higher than necessary to illuminate
the area required.
(b)
In any residential zoning district or within fifty (50) feet of any
residential zoning district, freestanding light fixtures shall not
exceed eighteen (18) feet in height. Within the next [fifty] (50)
to one hundred and fifty (150) feet of any residential zoning district,
freestanding light fixtures shall not exceed twenty-five (25) feet
in height. In all other locations, freestanding light fixtures shall
not exceed thirty (30) feet in height.
(d)
Light fixture design:
(1)
All luminaries used for security shall be vandal resistant that resist
tampering, incorporate vandal resistant refractors (lens) and shall
be provided with a gasket or seal designed to resist rain, dust and
insect contamination;
(2)
Outdoor light fixtures, which are full cutoff to direct all light
below a horizontal plane through the bottom of the fixture and have
no lens which drops below the fixture may use any illumination source,
up to a maximum of forty (40) footcandles;
(3)
Outdoor light fixtures, which have a lens or diffuser which is visible
above the horizontal plane and constructed of white/opal glass, are
considered noncutoff and filtered and shall be limited to the light
output equal to a one hundred (100) watt incandescent bulb, no greater
than one thousand seven hundred (1,700) lumens;
(4)
Outdoor light fixtures, which have a lens or diffuser which is visible
above the horizontal plane and constructed of clear or prismatic glass,
are considered noncutoff and nonfiltered and shall be limited to the
light output equal to a fifty (50) watt incandescent bulb no greater
than six hundred (600) lumens;
(5)
All conduit must be concealed; and
(6)
The footcandle level at the property line adjacent to a single-family
district (from the proposed lighting) shall not exceed one-quarter
(0.25) footcandle. Lighting next to a residential use shall not spill
over onto that use.
(e)
Other conditions related to lighting may be required through development
plan review.
(Ordinance O-04-17 adopted 5/2/17)
The following areas on a building or development shall be illuminated
to the minimum security lighting levels shown below:
(1)
All loading areas and docks shall be illuminated from dusk to dawn,
with four (4) footcandles of light at finish grade.
(2)
Carport parking structures shall be illuminated from dusk to dawn,
with three (3) footcandles, including the adjacent landscape area
to finish grade.
(3)
Parking structures and parking garages shall be illuminated from
dawn to dusk with ten (10) footcandles, and from dusk to dawn with
four (4) footcandles. Sublevel parking shall be continuously illuminated
twenty-four (24) hours a day with four (4) footcandles at finish grade.
Transitional lighting will be required at all entry areas.
(4)
All stairwells, landings and areas under the lower landing shall
be continuously illuminated with five (5) footcandles.
(5)
Breezeway lighting shall be illuminated from dusk to dawn, with four
(4) footcandles. Transitional lighting will be required at all entry
areas to the breezeway corridor.
(6)
Exterior pedestrian pathways and adjacent landscape areas within
twenty (20) feet of the pathway shall be illuminated from dusk to
dawn, with one-half (0.5) footcandle of light at finish grade. Pedestrian
gates shall be illuminated from dusk to dawn, with five (5) footcandles
and two (2) footcandles within a fifteen (15) foot radius.
(7)
Retention areas shall be illuminated from dusk to dawn, with five
(5) footcandles of light at finish grade.
(8)
Cluster or neighborhood mailboxes shall be illuminated from dusk
to dawn, with five (5) footcandles of light for a fifteen (15) foot
radius of the mailboxes.
(9)
Parking lots, aisles and refuse areas shall be illuminated from dusk
to dawn as follows:
(10)
All building entrances and vehicular gates at operator or locking
mechanism shall be illumined with five (5) footcandles at the entrance
and two (2) footcandles within a fifteen (15) foot radius from the
center point of the entrance.
(11)
Secondary lighting may be required to supplement the primary security
lighting due to design elements and landscaping conflicts, in order
to meet the minimum lighting criteria.
(Ordinance O-04-17 adopted 5/2/17)
The purpose of the effective outdoor lighting section is to
minimize glare, sky glow, light trespass and excessive energy consumption
through the use of appropriate lighting fixtures, practices and systems,
while maintaining safety, security and productivity and curtailing
degradation of the nighttime visual environment. The following are
requirements for effective outdoor lighting:
(1)
Fully shielded luminaries shall be required in all outdoor lighting
installations, with the following exceptions:
(A)
Outdoor light fixtures used to illuminate flags, statues, or any
other objects mounted on a pole, pedestal or platform shall use a
very narrow cone of light or shielded lights for the purpose of confining
the light to the object of interest and minimize light spillover and
glare. Compliance with this provision shall be subject to approval
by the building official; and
(B)
Building facades and architectural features of buildings may be floodlighted
when the floodlight fixtures are equipped with shields and are located
so as to limit the fixture’s direct light distribution to the
facade or feature being illuminated. The configuration of the floodlight
installation shall block all view to the floodlight fixture’s
lamps from adjacent properties. Compliance with this provision shall
be subject to approval by the building official.
(3)
The quality of the light source shall be a minimum of 65 CRI (color
rendering index) as indicated by the lamp manufacturer’s data.
(4)
Outdoor lighting shall be constructed and installed in a manner consistent
with this section and shall be located so as [to] not produce glare
or direct illumination across the property line or onto rights-of-way.
(Ordinance O-04-17 adopted 5/2/17)
In both residential, nonresidential districts and all provisional
districts (SF-4, MF and MH) lighting is required to be approved with
the site plan and designed and constructed to the following standards:
(1)
Metal standards (poles). The use of fiberglass poles is prohibited.
(2)
High pressure sodium bulbs (100 watt in residential areas and 250
watt at major intersections).
(3)
Poles shall be erected a maximum of two hundred feet (200') apart.
(4)
Streetlights shall be at each intersection and at the intersections
(i.e., street intersection and street and alley intersections).
(5)
A photometric plan must be approved by the city for streetlights
and for any other lighting in the project (e.g. park lighting, parking
lot lighting), this shall include the streetlight locations, type
of pole, the type of head and the size of the bulb (this plan can
and should be produced by the utility company).
(6)
All electrical wiring for street lighting facilities shall also be
installed with underground.
(Ordinance O-04-17 adopted 5/2/17)
