The purpose of this chapter is to promote the
public safety and welfare, to protect the historic character and scenic
beauty of the Village, to increase property values and improve the
quality of life within the Village, and to reduce the problems created
by improperly designed and installed exterior lighting. This chapter
is intended to eliminate problems of glare and minimize unnecessary
light trespass onto abutting properties or streets, to protect residences
from the negative impacts of neighboring commercial uses, to help
reduce the energy costs of exterior lighting, and to reduce sky glow.
This chapter shall hereafter be known and cited
as the "Exterior Lighting Law."
As used in this chapter, the following terms
shall be defined as follows:
AUTOMATIC TELLER MACHINE LIGHTING
The exterior lighting installed by a banking institution
complying with the minimum requirements of Article II-AA of the New
York State Banking Law, commonly referred to as the "ATM Safety Act."
CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER
The official charged with the duty to enforce the zoning
and other laws, ordinances, codes and regulations relating to buildings
and property.
DIRECT LIGHT
Light emitted directly from the lamp, off the reflector or
reflector diffuser, or through the refractor or diffuser lens of a
luminaire.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
The nighttime illumination of an outside area or object by
any man-made device that produces light by any means.
FIXTURE
The assembly that houses the lamp or lamps, including all
or some of the following parts: a housing, a mounting bracket or pole
socket, a lamp holder, a ballast, a reflector or mirror, and/or a
refractor or lens.
FLOOD or SPOTLIGHT
Any fixture or lamp that incorporates a reflector, a refractor,
or a prismatic lens to concentrate the light output into a directed
beam in a particular direction.
FOOTCANDLE
The amount of light produced by one candle at one foot from
the source of the light.
FULLY SHIELDED LUMINAIRE
A luminaire designed and installed in such a manner that
all light emitted by it, either directly from the lamp or a diffusing
element, is projected below a horizontal plane through the luminaire's
lowest light-emitting part.
GLARE
Light emitting from a luminaire with intensity great enough
to reduce a viewer's ability to see, or to reduce visibility for pedestrians
or motorists, or which produces a strong, steady or dazzling light.
HIGH ACTIVITY AREA
Parking lot for major cultural or civic events, regional
shopping centers and fast-food facilities.
INDIRECT LIGHT
Direct light that has been reflected off or has scattered
off an illuminated surface.
LAMP
The component of a luminaire that produces the actual light
(commonly called a "bulb").
LIGHT TRESPASS
Light produced by a luminaire that shines upon or is visible
from property beyond the boundary of the property where the luminaire
is located.
LUMEN
The unit used to measure the actual amount of light which
is produced by a lamp or luminaire. Lumen output of a lamp shall be
considered to be the initial output rating according to the manufacturer.
LUMINAIRE
A complete lighting system, including a lamp or lamps and
a fixture.
LUMINAIRE CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (LCS)
The Illumination Engineering Society of North America defines
the light distribution and optical control of roadway and area lighting
luminaires by the number of zonal lumens expressed as a percentage
of the total lamp lumens. LCS replaces the older IESNA cutoff classification
system. LCS includes the following classifications:
A.
FORWARD LOW (FL)This zone ranges from 0 to 60 degrees vertical and counter-clockwise from 270 to 90 degrees horizontal (in front of the luminaire).
B.
FORWARD MEDIUM (FM)This zone ranges from 30 to 60 degrees vertical and counter-clockwise from 270 to 90 degrees horizontal (in front of the luminaire).
C.
FORWARD HIGH (FH)This zone ranges from 60 to 80 degrees vertical and counter-clockwise from 270 to 90 degrees horizontal (in front of the luminaire).
D.
FORWARD VERY HIGH (FVH)This zone ranges from 80 to 90 degrees vertical and counter-clockwise from 270 to 90 degrees horizontal (in front of the luminaire).
E.
BACK LOW (BL)This zone ranges from 0 to 60 degrees vertical and counter-clockwise from 90 to 270 degrees horizontal (behind the luminaire).
F.
BACK MEDIUM (BM)This zone ranges from 30 to 60 degrees vertical and counter-clockwise from 90 to 270 degrees horizontal (behind the luminaire).
G.
BACK HIGH (BH)This zone ranges from 60 to 80 degrees vertical and counter-clockwise from 90 to 270 degrees horizontal (behind the luminaire).
H.
BACK VERY HIGH (BVH)This zone ranges from 80 to 90 degrees and counter-clockwise from 90 to 270 degrees horizontal (behind the luminaire).
I.
UP LOW (UL)This zone ranges from 90 to 100 degrees vertical and 360 degrees around the luminaire.
J.
UP HIGH (UH)This zone ranges from 100 to 180 degrees vertical and 360 degrees around the luminaire.
MEDIUM ACTIVITY AREA
Parking lot for office parks, cultural or civic events, community
shopping centers, residential complex parking and transportation parking.
SEASONAL LIGHTING
Any temporary decorative exterior lighting erected for the
purpose of holiday, festival or other special event celebrations.
SKY GLOW
The overhead skyward glow of a luminaire from light directly
emitted from or reflected above the horizontal plane of the luminaire.
TEMPORARY EXTERIOR LIGHTING
The illumination of an outside area or object by any man-made
device that produces light by any means, for a period not exceeding
seven days, and occurring no more than once within 180 days. Temporary
exterior lighting includes, but is not limited to, laser source light,
searchlights and strobe lights.
All new and replacement, permanently installed
exterior lighting in the Village of Pittsford, other than lighting
erected and maintained by the Village to light public streets, sidewalks,
walkways or other public areas, shall be in conformance with the requirements
of this chapter, unless otherwise exempted by this chapter.
Light fixtures mounted under roof overhangs,
soffits and canopies shall be recessed so that the lamp and/or lens
cover does not protrude from the bottom surface, or is shielded by
the fixture or the edge of the structure, so that light is restrained
to no more than 85 degrees from vertical.
Floodlights and spotlights, except for approved
sign lighting, shall be aimed 45 degrees or more below the horizontal.
Exterior lighting installed to illuminate an
automatic teller machine may exceed the maximum lighting levels of
this chapter, provided that the excess levels are the absolute minimum
required in order to comply with Article II-AA of the New York State
Banking Law, commonly referred to as the "ATM Safety Act."