BYLAW: Outdoor Lighting 2

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MUNICIPALITY: Unknown, generic

DATE ADOPTED: NA

TEXT OF THE BYLAW:

6.4 EXTERIOR LIGHTING

6.4.1 Purpose. The purpose of this Section is to enhance public safety by providing for adequate and appropriate outdoor lighting, protect community character, promote energy conservation and protect against light trespass and glare.

6.4.2 Definitions. For the purposes of this Section, the following terms shall be defined as indicated below. Although set forth here for convenience, the terms shall have the same effect as if set forth in Section 2.0 of this Bylaw.

6.4.2.1 COLOR RENDERING INDEX (CRI) A measurement of the amount of color shift that objects undergo when lighted by a light source as compared with the color of those same objects when seen under a reference light source of comparable color temperature. CRI values generally range from 0 to 100, where 100 represents incandescent light.

6.4.2.2 FIXTURE The assembly that houses a lamp or lamps, and which may include a housing, a mounting bracket or pole socket, a lamp holder, a ballast, a reflector or mirror, and/or a refractor, lens or diffuser lens.

6.4.2.3 GLARE Light emitted from a luminaire with intensity great enough to produce annoyance, discomfort or a reduction in a viewer's ability to see.

6.4.2.4 LAMP The component of a luminaire that produces the actual light.

6.4.2.5 LIGHT TRESPASS The shining of direct light produced by a luminaire beyond the boundaries of the lot on which it is located.

6.4.2.6 LUMEN A measure of light energy generated by a light source. One foot candle is one lumen per square foot. For purposes of this Bylaw, the lumen output shall be the initial lumen output of a lamp, as rated by the manufacturer.

6.4.2.7 LUMINAIRE A complete lighting system, including a lamp or lamps and a fixture.

6.4.3 Applicability. Outdoor illumination by flood or spot luminaires rated at nine hundred (900) lumens or more (which is approximately equal to one 60-watt incandescent light bulb) or by any other luminaires rated at one thousand eight hundred (1800) lumens or more (which is approximately equal to one 120-watt incandescent light bulb) shall be subject to the provisions of this Section, with the following exceptions: emergency lighting; hazard warning; temporary decorative or holiday lighting; public roadway illumination or other lighting required by or installed by governmental agencies. It shall also not apply to any luminaire intended solely to illuminate any freestanding sign, flag or the walls of any building but such luminaire shall be shielded so that its direct fight is confined to the surface of such sign, flag or building.

6.4.3.1 The replacement of existing fixtures shall be subject to the provisions of this Section, however, the replacement of existing nonconforming lamps or fixtures with the same or lower output nonconforming lamps or fixtures is exempted.

6.4.3.2 The Planning Board in performing review pursuant to Section 7.3, Environmental Impact and Design Review may determine that special circumstances of the site, context or design make an alternative lighting design at least equally effective in meeting the purposes of this Section and in such cases, may modify the requirements of this Section.

6.4.4 Exterior Lighting Plan. Applications subject to the provisions of Section 7.3, Environmental Impact and Design Review shall submit a lighting plan which shall include the following information, except to the extent waived by the Planning Board All other lighting not subject to the provisions of said Section 7.3 does not require a lighting plan but shall meet the standards as set forth in this Section, unless as may otherwise be provided herein. The lighting plan shall include the following information:

6.4.4.1 location, orientation and type of outdoor luminaire, including the height of the luminaire;

6.4.4.2 luminaire manufacturer's specification data, including lumen output and photometric data showing cutoff angles;

6.4.4.3 type of lamp such as metal halide, compact fluorescent, high pressure sodium and its associated Color Rendering Index (CRI);

6.4.4.4 photometric plan showing the intensity of illumination expressed in foot candles at ground level within the interior of the property and at the property boundaries. The plan shall also include the following illumination information in a table format: Minimum; Maximum; Average; Average to Minimum and Maximum to Minimum; and

6.4.4.5 evidence that any light trespass does not exceed the limitations set forth in Chart IV herein.

6.4.5 Flickering and Flashing Lights. No flickering or flashing lights shall be permitted. Processes, such as arc welding, which create light flashes shall be confined within buildings or shielded to prevent either direct glare or flashing.

6.4.6 Wall Mounted Fixtures. In Nonresidential Districts, a luminaire attached to the exterior of a building or structure for area lighting shall be mounted no higher than fifteen (15) feet above grade and shall be shielded to control glare.

6.4.7 Pole Mounted Fixtures. Pole mounted exterior lighting fixture types are defined and restricted as follows:

6.4.7.1 Type A. No fight cutoff.

6.4.7.2 Type B. Luminaire shielded such that peals candlepower is at an angle of 75 degrees or less from straight down, and essentially no light is emitted above the horizontal.

6.4.7.3 Type C. Luminaire shielded such that total cutoff is at less than 90 degrees from straight down, and no light source is in direct view of an observer five (5) feet above the ground at any point off the premises.

6.4.8 Pole Mounted Fixtures Height Limitation. Illustrations of pole mounted exterior lighting fixture types are shown in Chart I herein. Pole mounted fixtures shall not exceed the applicable pole mounted height limitation set forth in Chart II in any district. The Type A pole mounted exterior lighting fixture is prohibited in all Nonresidential Districts.