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2005-10-10 Jt EC & Planning Agenda Packetd AGENDA Golden Valley Planning Commission Joint Meeting with the Environmental Commission Lighting Regulation Presentation and Discussion Golden Valley City Hall, 7800 Golden Valley Road Council Conference Room Monday, October 10, 2005 6 pm I. Approval of minutes September 26, 2005 Joint City Council and Planning Commission Meeting II. Lighting regulation presentation and discussion by Barbara Senness, Planning Director for the City of Plymouth, Londell Pease, Associate Planner for the City of Bloomington and Mark Mlazgar, Owner of R.L. Mlazgar Associates, a lighting manufacturing company III. Reports on meetings of the Housing and Redevelopment Authority, City Council, Board of Zoning Appeals and other meetings IV. Other business V. Adjournment - it l , �:. ox - "WAalley Date: September 21, 2005 Planning 763-593-80951763-593-8109 (fax) To: Environmental and Planning Commissions From: Aaron Hanauer, Planning Intern Subject: Lighting Regulation Joint Commission Meeting: Monday October 10 6-7:30pm A joint Planning and Environmental Commission meeting is scheduled for Monday, October 10 from 6-7:30pm to discuss potential lighting regulation in Golden Valley. Three guests have been invited to discuss their experience on this issue. Barbara Senness, Planning Director for the City of Plymouth, Londell Pease, Associate Planner for the City of Bloomington, and Mark Mlazgar, a Bloomington resident, and owner of R.L. Mlazgar Associates, a lighting manufacturing company. As discussed at the joint meeting on August 8, 2005, the City of Golden Valley will likely hire a consultant to write a lighting ordinance. The October 10 meeting will be an opportunity to learn from and ask questions of two communities that have dealt with this issue. Plymouth rewrote their lighting ordinance in November 2004 after their initial ordinance was found to be inadequate in creating efficient lighting regulation. Bloomington has had their lighting ordinance in place since 1996. The communities in the Twin Cites with lighting regulation have a varying degree of complexity. Bloomington and Plymouth have the most elaborate ordinances in the metro area that address glare, spill over, height limitations and amount of light allowed. Other communities with lighting ordinances only address glare and lighting spill over (see attached St. Louis Park ordinance). Below is a list of the enclosed documents. Please call Aaron Hanauer, Planning Intern with any questions. • Lighting ordinance for Plymouth, Bloomington, and St. Louis Park • Articles o American Planning Association. October 1995. Shedding Light on the Urban Landscape o New York Times. July 15, 2001. Night Lights Dims Stars and Irks Residents o New York Times. December 22, 2001. And Now, A New York Version of Star Wars o Southwest Journal. January 20, 2005 Getting the Glare Out of City Streetlights o Star Tribune: November 14, 2004. Minnesota Continues to Blot Out Celestial Sights. Form Some It's the Latest Quality -of -Life Issue PLYMOUTH ZONING ORDINANCE along one curb line, thence diagonally to a point thirty (30) feet from the point of beginning along the other curb line. The exception to this requirement shall be where there is a tree, planting or landscape arrangement within such area that will not create a total obstruction wider than three (3) feet. These requirements shall not apply to conditions that legally exist prior to the effective date of this Chapter unless the Zoning Administrator detennines that such conditions constitute a safety hazard. (Amended by Ord. No 2002-32, 11126102) 21105.06. EXTERIOR LIGHTING: Except for single- and two-family homes located within the RSF zoning districts, all exterior lighting shall comply with the following standards: Subd. 1. Purpose and Scope. The purpose of this Section is to establish exterior lighting requirements that will l) permit reasonable uses of lighting for night-time safety, utility, security, productivity, enjoyment and commerce, 2) minimize glare, obtrusive light and artificial sky glow by limiting outdoor lighting that is misdirected, excessive or unnecessary, 3) conserve energy and resources to the greatest extent possible and 4) help protect the natural environment from the damaging effects of night lighting from man-made sources. Subd. 2. Applicability. (a) All outdoor lighting fixtures (luminaires) in Lighting Zone 3 and all outdoor lighting fixtures on non-residential properties in Lighting Zones l and 2 shall be installed in conformance with the provisions of this Section and Section 21155 (Sign Regulations) as applicable as well as the latest rules, codes and regulations, including but not limited to OSHA, National Fire Codes of Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and National Electrical Code. in addition, all lighting fixtures shall be installed under appropriate permit and inspection. (b) Lighting on single and two family homes, manor homes and townhouses is not covered by this ordinance. However, it is recommended that lighting for such dwellings conform to the regulations in this Section. (c) Lighting in the public right of way is not covered by this ordinance. However, it is recommended that all such lighting conform to the regulations in the Section. Subd. 3. Use of Lighting Zones. (a) Using Table 1 as a guide, the City Council shall detennine and maintain Lighting Zones within the boundaries of the City. (b) The lighting zones established by this Ordinance are hereby set forth on the Plymouth, Minnesota Lighting Zone Map; and said map is hereby made a part of this Ordinance; said map shall be known as the "Plymouth, Minnesota Lighting Zone Map". Said snap and all notations, references, and data shown thereon are hereby incorporated by reference into this Ordinance and shall be as much a part of it as if all were fully described herein. It shall be the responsibility of the Zoning Administrator to maintain said map, and amendments thereto shall be recorded on said Lighting Zone Map within thirty (30) days after official adoption of amendments. The official Lighting Zone Map shall be kept on file in the City Hall. The Lighting Zone of a parcel or project shall 21105-3 PLYMOUTH ZONING ORDINANCE determine the limitations for lighting as specified in this Section. (Amended by Ord. No. 2005-07, 05/10/05) (c) Amendments to the Lighting Zones shall be processed according to the procedures established in Section 21010 of this Chapter. Table 1 — Lighting Zone Ratings and Characteristics Zane AmbentF�g r Typical Locations rg Y! illummahong� s� LZ 1 Dark Natural areas (C ity-owned open space as 0.3 foot-candle 0.1 foot-candle defined in the Plymouth Comprehensive 0.8 foot-candle 0.2 foot-candle Plan); rural areas (properties guided Living Area Rural) LZ2 Low Low and medium density residential areas, (generally properties guided Living Area -1, Living Area -2, Living Area -3 LZ3 Medium High density residential areas (properties guided Living Area -4), shopping and commercial districts (generally properties guided Commercial, City Center and Commercial Office), industrial parks and districts (properties guided Planned Industrial), City playfields and major institutional uses and mixed use districts Subd. 4. Light Trespass Limitations. The illuminance values given are measured at the property line or centerline of a public street. Table 2 — Light Trespass Limitations LightingZone IYTaitnuxn` Illmiriinance Maximum tllumannce LZ1 0.1 foot-candle 0.1 foot-candle LZ2 0.3 foot-candle 0.1 foot-candle LZ3 0.8 foot-candle 0.2 foot-candle Subd. 5. General Performance Standards: (a) Luminaire lamp wattage, shielding and installation requirements. (1) All outdoor lighting systems except signs shall comply with the limits to lamp wattage and the shielding requirements in Table 3. 21105-4 PLYMOUTH ZONING ORDINANCE Table 3 — Maximum Wattage and Required Shielding Lighting Full Must be Must be partly Canbe LTnshtelcied* Zone Sliieldmg ��hielded� Shieldec°' yy Re" uire��r LZ1 70 watts 30 watts None None permitted permitted LZ2 150 watts 55 watts None Low voltage landscape ermitted lighting LZ3 450 watts 100 watts 55 watts Landscape and fagade lighting 100 watts or less; ornamental lights of 55 watts and less -�iniejamng is nevertneiess nigniy encouraged. (2) Only luminaires that are allowed to be unshielded in Table 3 may employ flexible or adjustable mounting systems. All other luminaires shall be permantly installed so as to maintain the shielding requirements in Table 3. (3) The City may accept a photometric test report, demonstration or sample or other satisfactory confirmation that a luminaire meets the requirements of the shielding classification. (4) Shielded fixtures must be constructed and installed in such a manner that all light emitted by the fixture meets or exceeds the specification given. This includes all the light emitted by the fixture, either directly from the lamp or by a diffusing element or indirectly by reflection or refraction from any part of the fixture. Any structural part of the fixture providing this shielding must be permanently affixed. (5) Luminaires within 300 feet of a residential property line shall be equipped with side shielding (house side shielding) to limit obtrusive light observed from the residential property. (6) All canopy lighting must be fully shielded. However, indirect up light is permitted under a canopy provided that no lamp or vertical element of a lens or diffuser is visible from beyond the canopy and such that no direct light is emitted beyond the opaque canopy. (7) Directional lamp sources, such as LED sources, shall be limited to a luminance level of one thousand (1,000) candela per square meter (nits) from sunset to sunrise. (b) Height Limits. (1) Pole mounted lighting. Lighting mounted onto poles or any structures intended primarily for mounting of lighting shall not exceed a mounting height of forty (40) percent of the horizontal distance of the light pole from the property line, nor a maximum height according to Table 4, whichever is lower. Height includes the base and the pole heights. 21105-5 PLYMOUTH ZONING ORDINANCE P Table 4 — Maximum Lighting Mounting Height in Feet �ngightmg far � ill Other e� yLighttngor yews Parking Walkways, Plazas L,ightg ann�jTranss�t�W'� wand other , f t� E 77 %", Pedestnan Areas A . LZ 1 25 feet 12 feet 4.5 feet LZ2 25 feet 18 feet 8 feet LZ3 30 feet 18 feet 15 feet (2) Exceptions for pole heights. a. Mounting heights greater than forty (40) percent of the horizontal distance to the property line but no greater than permitted by Table 4 may be used provided that the luminaire is side shielded (house side shielding) toward the property line. b. Lights specifically for driveways, and then only at the intersection of the road providing access to the site, may be mounted at any distance relative to the property line, but may not exceed the mounting height listed in Table 4. C. Landscape lighting may be installed in a tree. (3) Lights mounted to buildings or structures. Lighting mounted onto buildings or other structures shall not exceed a mounting height greater than four (4) feet higher than the tallest part of the building or structure at the place where the lighting is installed, nor higher than forty (40) percent of the horizontal distance of the light from the property line, whichever is less. (4) Exceptions for building mounted lights. a. Lighting for facades may be mounted at any height equal to or less than the total height of the structure being illuminated regardless of horizontal distance to property line. b. For buildings less than forty (40) feet to the property line, including canopies or overhangs onto a sidewalk or public right of way, luminaires may be mounted to the vertical facade or underside of canopies at sixteen (16) feet or less. C. The top exterior deck of parking garages shall be treated as non -nal pole mounted lighting rather than as lights mounted to buildings. The lights on the outside edges of such a deck must be side shielded to the property line. (c) Total site lighting power limits. The following subsection applies to all outdoor lighting, whether attached to buildings, poles or structures or self-supporting. 21105-6 PLYMOUTH ZONING ORDINANCE (l) The maximum allowed lighting limit shall be determined as follows: a. Following the rules in Item (2) below, multiply the area (square footage) of each of the application types in Table 5 by the allowed lamp wattage per square foot for the appropriate Lighting Zone. b. Add up the total of the watts for each application type. C. The power allowance for the application type shall not exceed the total application limit in Table 5. (2) Rules a. Power is not allowed for any use types not listed, except for those items given in Subd. 6 (Exempt Lighting) and 7 (Special Purpose Lighting) below. b. Only one application type may be applied to any given area. C. Canopy allowances include only the area within the drip line area of the canopy. d. Areas that are not designed to be illuminated may not be counted toward the total site limit. e. The entire area cannot be used for the power allowance. 21105-7 PLYMOUTH ZONING ORDINANCE Table 5 — Lighting Power Allowances (watts per square foot unless otherwise noted) Pghti g A hCanoI! Allowed Are Y i 6 LZI Z L7,3 Parking lots, Paved areas plus 5 feet of the 0.020 0.040 0.080 plazas, perimeter of adjacent unpaved hardscape land. Includes planters and lighting, landscaped areas less than 10 driveways, on feet wide that are enclosed by site private hardscape on at least three sides. drives Sidewalks, Paved area plus 5 feet of 0.040 0.080 0.15 walkways and unpaved land on either side of bikeways ath of travel. Building Width of doors plus 3 feet on 0.35 0.50 0.70 entrances either side times a distance (without outward from the building from canopy) the surface of the doors 10 feet. Building entry, Drip line area under canopy. 13 0.10 0.20 0.40 drive -up sales watts plus the value in the LZ and general use columns. canopies Vehicle service Drip line area under canopy; or 0.30 0.60 1.20 station 500 square feet per double -sided fuel dispenser unit not under canopy. Building Entire vertical area of fagadc. Not allowed 0.18 0.35 facades Outdoor sales Portion of uncovered outdoor Not allowed 0.60 1.10 lot sales lot used for display of vehicles or other merchandise for sale. All adjacent access drives, walkway areas, customer parking areas, vehicle service or storage areas that are not surrounded on at least three sides by sales area shall be considered hardscape. Outdoor sales Valid only for sections of an Not allowed Not allowed 30 w/If frontage outdoor sales area that are along (frontage in the frontage. A comer sales lot linear feet and may include both sides provided the allowance is that a different principal viewing per linear foot) location exists for each side. Ornamental Entire site. By 0.010 0.020 lighting conditional use permit only (d) Required lighting controls. Lighting systems for non-residential properties shall be extinguished or reduced in lighting by at least fifty (50) percent beginning at curfew and continuing until dawn or start of business, whichever is sooner. The reduction shall be determined as an overall average for a site. When possible, the lighting system should be turned off entirely. (l) Curfew. Curfew shall be as follows: LZ1, the later of 8:00 PM or close of business LZ2, the later of 10:00 PM or close of business LZ3, the later of midnight or close of business (2) Exceptions to curfew: a. When there is only one (conforming) luminaire for the site. 21105-8 PLYMOUTH ZONING ORDINANCE b. Code required lighting for steps and stairs. C. When in the opinion of the City Council, reduced lighting levels at a given location will cause unacceptable increased risk and design levels must be maintained. (e) Prohibited lighting. (1) Mercury vapor lamps (2) Lighting fixtures mounted to aim light only toward a property line. (3) Lighting fixtures mounted in a way so as to cause confusion or hazard to traffic or to conflict with traffic control signs or lights. (f) Following installation of any lighting on a site, the engineer or lighting professional who prepared the lighting plan shall certify in writing that the location, type, mounting height and photometric data all meet the letter of the approved lighting plan. (g) Any new lighting installed after the effective date of this ordinance shall be in compliance with the requirements of this Section. Any lighting in existence before the effective date of this ordinance that does not comply with the requirements shall be considered legally non -conforming. However, if a property owner proposes to replace fifty (50) percent or more of the existing exterior light fixtures or standards in any one (1) year period, the fixtures or standards must be replaced in conformance with this Chapter. Subd.6. Exempt Lighting: The following luminaires and lighting systems are exempt from the provisions of this Section. (a) Lighting required and regulated by the Federal Aviation Administration or other federal or state agency. (b) Situations where fire, police, rescue or repair personnel need light for temporary emergencies or road repair work. (c) Temporary holiday lighting provided that individual lamps are ten (10) watts or less. (d) Temporary lighting for theatrical, television and performance areas. (e) Soffit or wall -mounted luminaires less than twenty (20) watts incandescent or nine (9) watts compact fluorescent and permanently attached to dwellings (including multi -family residence but excluding hotels or motels) not to exceed twenty (20) feet above the adjacent -grade. (f) Lighting in swimming pools and other water features governed by Article 680 of the National Electrical Code. 21105-9 PLYMOUTH ZONING ORDINANCE (g) Code required exit signs. (h) Code required lighting for stairs and ramps. (i) Interior lighting. Subd. 7. Special Purpose Lighting. (a) High intensity lighting. The following lighting systems are prohibited from being installed except by administrative permit. (1) Aerial lasers (2) Skytrackers (b) Other special lighting. (1) Lighting systems not complying with the technical requirements of this Section but consistent with its intent may be installed for the following applications upon issuance of a conditional use permit. Each request for a conditional use permit shall be evaluated based upon the standards and criteria set forth in Section 21015.02, Subd. 5 of this Chapter. (i) Outdoor athletic fields and recreations areas. (ii) Construction lighting. (iii) National and State flag lighting with spotlights greater than 70 watts in LZ3 and greater than 39 watts in LZ1 and LZ2. (iv) Floodlighting of buildings over two (2) stories high. (v) Public monuments, public buildings and religious institutions. (vi) Ornamental lighting in LZ1. (vii) Any other lighting application not listed in Table 5. (2) To obtain a conditional use permit, applicants shall demonstrate that the proposed lighting installation: (a) Is not within LZ1, except for ornamental lighting and necessary construction lighting. (b) Utilizes fully shielded luminaires and, if require, side shielded and internally shielded luminaires that are installed in a fashion that maintains the shielding characteristics unless certified in writing by a registered engineer or by a certified lighting professional that such shielding is impractical. Where fully shielded fixtures cannot be utilized, acceptable 21105-10 PLYMOUTH ZONING ORDINANCE luminaires shall include only those that are installed with minimum aiming angles of twenty-five (25) degrees downward from the horizontal. Said aiming angle shall be measured from the axis of the luminaire's maximum beam candlepower as certified by an independent testing agency. (c) Has received every reasonable effort to mitigate obtrusive light and artificial sky glow, supported by a signed statement from a registered engineer or by a certified lighting professional describing the mitigation measures. (d) Complies with all the technical requirements of this Section after curfew, with the following exception. No illumination of athletic fields shall be permitted after 11:00 PM, except to conclude a scheduled event that was in the progress before 11:00 PM and circumstances prevented concluding before 11:00 PM. (Amended by Ord. No. 2004-30, 11/23/04) 21105.07. SMOKE: The emission of smoke by any use shall be in compliance with and regulated by the State of Minnesota Pollution Control Standards, Minnesota Regulation APC 7017. 21105.08. DUST AND OTHER PARTICULATE MATTER: The emission of dust, fly ash or other particulate matter by any use shall be in compliance with and regulated by the State of Minnesota Pollution Control Standards, Minnesota Regulation APC 7011. 21105.09. AIR POLLUTION: The emission of air pollution, including potentially hazardous emissions, by any use shall be in compliance with and regulated by Minnesota Statutes 116, as may be amended. 21105.10. NOISE: Noises emanating from any use shall be in compliance with and regulated by 2025 of the City Code. (Amended by Ord. No. 2000-06, 02/29/00) 21105.11. OUTSIDE STORAGE/DISPLAY: Subd.1. General. (a) Passenger automobiles and trucks not currently licensed by the State, or which are incapable of movement under their own power due to mechanical deficiency, which are parked or stored outside for a period in excess of ninety-six (96) hours, and all materials stored outside in violation of the City Ordinances are considered refuse or junk and shall be disposed of pursuant to City regulations. 21105-11 Bloomington City Code Chapter 19 page 23 Preface 11. Charter 111. Code I SEARCH 11 < BackI Forward > Part II. Code Chapter 19. ZONING Section 19.54. PARKING FACILITY AND EXTERIOR SECURITY LIGHTING. (a) Purpose. The purpose of this Section is to establish lighting requirements for personal safety and crime prevention while regulating any spill-over of light and glare on operators of motor vehicles, pedestrians, and land uses near a light source to promote personal and traffic safety and to prevent the creation of public nuisances. (b) Lighting Plan. Except for single family and two family dwellings, plans for required parking lot and security lighting shall be approved by the Planning Manager and the City of Bloomington Police Department prior to approvals for or the issuance of permits for the activities requiring compliance under Subdivision (d) of this Section. The plans, at appropriate scale, shall be based on accurate, approved final site plans and shall depict all exterior lighting as to its location, orientation and configuration for the development. This must include but not be limited to: (1) Luminaire height; (2) Luminaire and standard technical specifications; (3) Intensity of illumination measured at the least point of illumination and the greatest point of illumination when measured from ground level; (4) Type of light source (Metal Halide, High Pressure Sodium, etc.); (5) Hours of illumination; and (6) Photometric plan superimposed on the site plan for each classification of lighting with points no greater than 30 feet apart. (c) Performance Standards - (1) Lighting standards in all zoning districts except those for a residential use and those in a residential zone - (A) Wall or roof lighting may be used to illuminate the pedestrian walkways, entrance areas and yard areas within 30 feet of the building. No wall or roof lighting shall be used to illuminate areas for motor vehicle parking or access unless the City of Bloomington Police Department and the Planning Manager find the following: (i) That the proposed lighting is not in conflict with the stated purpose in Section 19.54 of this Code; (ii) That the proposed lighting will not unreasonably harm or restrict public health, safety and welfare or create a nuisance; and (iii) The proposed luminaire has a cutoff angle of less than or equal to 66 degrees. Page 1 of 7 littn://www.el.bloominiiton.mn.us/code/Codel9 23.html 04/06/2004 Bloomington City Code Chapter 19 page 23 Page 2 of 7 (B) Any open area used for motor vehicle parking, storage or access shall be illuminated with free-standing luminaires. Free-standing luminaires are permitted to be a maximum of 30 feet in height with a three foot support for a maximum height from the ground of 33 feet. When a luminaire is located within 500 feet of a protected residential property, the maximum permitted luminaire height shall be 25 feet. All measurements shall be taken from the average elevation of the finished grade within 10 feet of the structure or fixture to the highest point of the luminaire. All luminaires must have a total cutoff angle equal to or less than 90 degrees. The use of exterior lighting with a cutoff angle greater than 90 degrees shall be permitted only when the Bloomington Police Department and the Planning Manager find the following: (i) That the proposed lighting is not in conflict with the stated purpose in Section 19.54 of this Code; (ii) That the proposed lighting will not unreasonably harm or restrict public health, safety and welfare or create a nuisance; and (iii) The proposed lighting will not result in an impairment of vision creating a hazard for vehicular or pedestrian traffic. (C) In no instance shall Low Pressure Sodium fixtures be used to illuminate non -protected residential property unless the Bloomington Police Department finds the following: (i) That the proposed lighting is not in conflict with the stated purpose in Section 19.54 of this Code; (ii) That the proposed lighting will not unreasonably harm or restrict public health, safety and welfare or create a nuisance; and (iii) The color distortion effect of Low Pressure Sodium lighting will not create a hindrance to crime prevention and investigation. (2) Intensity of lighting in all zoning districts except those for a residential use and those in a residential zone - (A) The amount of illumination attributable to exterior lighting from a property shall not exceed 1 foot-candle when measured at any boundary line with an adjoining property. This provision may be waived by the Issuing Authority when: (i) The proposed lighting is not in conflict with the stated purpose in Section 19.54 of this Code; The proposed lighting will not unreasonably harm or restrict public health, safety and welfare or create a nuisance; and The proposed lighting will not result in an impairment of vision creating a hazard for vehicular or pedestrian traffic. (B) All parking lot and parking structure lighting located within 300 feet of a protected residential property line may be illuminated not more than one (1) hour before the start of business and shall be extinguished within one (1) hour after the end of business except as approved by the Bloomington Police Department after finding the following: httn-//www.ci.bloomington.mn.us/code/Code19 23.html 04/06/2004 Bloomington City Code Chapter 19 page 23 (i) The property has been identified as an area where the incidence or potential for crime warrant additional lighting; (ii) Additional lighting is required to increase visibility of a property which is not readily accessible for police during routine patrol; and (iii) The use of timers, sensors, or other devices that produce a reduced lighting level that does not conflict with the stated purpose in Section 19.54 of this Code. (C) All lighting shall be maintained for all uses at the level specified in Table 19.54-1 of this Code when measured from the point of least and greatest illumination at any location within the property. In no instance may required lighting have a greater maximum/minimum uniformity ratio than 10:1. (3) Lighting standards in all residential zoning districts and all residential uses except those containing six or less parking spaces for a residential use and those containing single family and two family dwellings - (A) Wall or roof lighting may be used to illuminate the pedestrian walkways, entrance areas and yard areas within 30 feet of the building. No wall or roof lighting shall be used to illuminate areas for motor vehicle parking or access unless the City of Bloomington Police Department and the Planning Manager find the following: (i) That the proposed lighting is not in conflict with the stated purpose in Section 19.54 of this Code; (ii) That the proposed lighting will not unreasonably harm or restrict public health, safety and welfare or create a nuisance; and (iii) The proposed luminaire has a cutoff angle of less than or equal to 66 degrees. (B) Any open area used for motor vehicle parking, storage or access shall be illuminated with free-standing luminaires. Free-standing luminaires are permitted to be a maximum of 25 feet in height. All measurements shall be taken from the average elevation of the finished grade within 10 feet of the structure or fixture to the highest point of the luminaire. All luminaires must have a total cutoff angle equal to or less than 90 degrees. The use of exterior lighting with a cutoff angle greater than 90 degrees shall be permitted only when the Bloomington Police Department and the Planning Manager find the following: (i) That the proposed lighting is not in conflict with the stated purpose in Section 19.54 of this Code; (ii) That the proposed lighting will not unreasonably harm or restrict public health, safety and welfare or create a nusiance; and (iii) The proposed lighting will not result in an impairment of vision creating a hazard for vehicular or pedestrian traffic. (C) In no instance shall Low Pressure Sodium fixtures be used to illuminate non -protected residential property unless the Bloomington Police Department finds the following: Page 3 of 7 Bloomington City Code Chapter 19 page 23 (i) That the proposed lighting is not in conflict with the stated purpose in Section 19.54 of this Code; (ii) That the proposed lighting will not unreasonably harm or restrict public health, safety and welfare or create a nuisance; and (iii) The color distortion effect of Low Pressure Sodium lighting will not create a hindrance to crime prevention and investigation. (4) Intensity of lighting in all residential zoning districts and all residential uses except those containing six or less parking spaces for a residential use and those containing single family and two family dwellings - (A) The maximum power of any light source shall be 250 watts. (B) The amount of illumination attributable to exterior lighting from a property shall not exceed 1 foot-candle when measured at any boundary line with an adjoining property. This provision may be waived by the Issuing Authority when: (i) The proposed lighting is not in conflict with the stated purpose in Section 19.54 of this Code; The proposed lighting will not unreasonably harm or restrict public health, safety and welfare or create a nuisance; and The proposed lighting will not result in an impairment of vision creating a hazard for vehicular or pedestrian traffic. (C) All parking lot and parking structure lighting may be illuminated not more than one (1) hour before the start of business and shall be extinguished within one (1) hour after the end of business except as approved by the Bloomington Police Department after finding the following: (i) The property has been identified as an area where the incidence or potential for crime warrant additional lighting; (ii) Additional lighting is required to increase visibility of a property which is not readily accessible for police during routine patrol; and (iii) The use of timers, sensors, or other devices that produce a reduced lighting level that does not conflict with the stated purpose in Section 19.54 of this Code. (D) All lighting shall be maintained for all uses at the level specified in Table 19.54-1 of this Code when measured from the point of least and greatest illumination at any location within the property. In no instance may required lighting have a greater maximum/minimum uniformity ratio than 6:1. Table 19.54.1: Minimum Intensity of Lighting for the Specific Uses Use Minimum Illumination Parking Lots for non-residential uses and 2 foot-candles3 zones Parking Lots for residential uses and 1.5 foot-candles Page 4 of 7 httn://www.ci.bloomington.mn.us/code/Codel9 23.html 04/06/2004 M Moomington City Code Chapter 19 page 23 residential zones Parking Structures - Vehicle Parking and 5 foot-candles Drive Aisles Parking Structures4 - Designated Pedestrian 20 foot-candles Walkways Pedestrian Access 5 foot-candles Buildinq Entrance and Exits6 10 foot-candles Parkinq Structure Entrance and Exits? 35 foot-candles 1 The minimum light when measured in foot-candles at the point of least illumination when measured at ground level. 2 This shall not include parking structures or approved open storage areas for the storage of motor vehicles. 3 This may be reduced to 1.5 foot candles within 30 feet of the outside perimeter of a parking lot curb with the approval of the Bloomington Police Department in accordance with the findings in Section 19.54(c)(1)(B)(i), (ii) and (iii). 4 This includes all parking ramps and parking structures. 5 This includes all sidewalks designated for pedestrian access. This does not include areas in an open parking lot which are not exclusively designated as pedestrian access only. Measurements shall be taken at ground level anywhere on the sidewalk. 6 When measured 10 feet from any pedestrian entrance or exit to an enclosed structure. 7 This level of light is for a minimum of 50 feet inside a 100% closed parking structure to allow for a transition zone for transient light adaptation. (5) Glare. In all zoning districts, any lighting shall be arranged so as not to shine directly on any adjoining property. A person shall not conduct a use that has a source of illumination that produces glare clearly visible beyond a property line or creates a sensation of brightness within a visual field so as to cause annoyance, discomfort, or impairment of vision. The use of lenses, deflectors, shields, louvers, or prismatic control devices shall be used to eliminate nuisance and hazardous lighting to facilitate compliance with this requirement. (6) Parking Structures. Luminaires used for illumination of designated pedestrian walkways in parking structures shall be of a significantly different color value than luminaires used for illuminating vehicle parking and drive aisles. (d) Compliance. Any new lighting installed after the effective date of this ordinance shall be in compliance with the requirements of this ordinance. Any lighting in existence before the effective date of this ordinance that does not comply with its requirements shall be considered legally non -complying and may remain, subject to the following provisions: (1) Alterations to existing lighting. (A) When poles and support structures are removed and replaced for reasons other than acts of god or accidents, they must be replaced with luminaires, poles and supports that comply with this Section; and (B) When luminaires are replaced, they must be replaced with luminaires that comply with all provisions of this Section except the minimum light intensity provisions of subsection (c)(2)(E) and Table 19.54-1. In no event, however, may the existing light intensity levels be reduced below existing lighting levels for the parking area. Page 5 of 7 Bloomington City Code Chapter 19 page 23 Page 6 of 7 9 (2) Removal and replacement of parking lot surface. When less than 50% of the gross area of the parking lot surface on a particular site is removed and replaced, only the parking area replaced must be provided with lighting in compliance with this Section. If greater than 50% of the parking area on a particular site is removed and replaced at one time, the entire parking lot on the site where the construction activity occurs must be in full compliance with this Section. A parking lot or portion thereof is "removed and replaced" when any portion of the existing parking surface material is removed and a new surface is installed. (3) New parking lots or parking lot additions. When a new parking lot or addition to an existing parking lot is constructed, the new lot or lot addition must be provided with lighting in compliance with Section 19.54 of this Code. (4) New structures, additions, or replacements. When a site is improved with new structures or additions to or replacements of existing structures, the lighting for the new structure, addition or replacement on the site must be upgraded with complying lighting and the parking lot lighting must be upgraded with complying lighting over a portion of the parking area that is equivalent to the amount of parking that would be required for the new structure, addition or replacement by Section 19.64 of this Code. In the event that the new structure, addition, or replacement is accompanied by new or replaced parking area, the amount of upgraded lighting area shall be that required under this subparagraph (4), or that required under the combination of subparagraphs (2) and (3), whichever is greater. (5) Change of type of occupancy. When the type of occupancy of a site is changed, the lighting for the site shall be upgraded, as necessary, to comply with this Section for the structure and the parking lot be upgraded for the required parking for the occupancy as established in Section 19.64 of this Code. For purposes of determining the type of occupancy of a site, the occupancy classifications of the Minnesota State Building Code shall be utilized. (6) Unoccupied sites. When a site has been unoccupied for a period of one year, the lighting shall be upgraded to fully comply with this Section prior to any reoccupation of the site. (7) When a development application is made for a site, the City Council may as a condition of approval require compliance with any or all of the performance standards of this Section, and the extent of compliance required in such cases may be greater than that otherwise required under subdivision (d), if deemed reasonably necessary to protect the public health, safety or welfare and to achieve the purposes of this Section. (8) Date for final compliance. Notwithstanding any of the above, the lighting of all sites within the City shall be in full compliance with this Section no later than January 1, 2010. (e) Point of Measurement. Any light intensity measurement taken at the property line shall be measured at the greatest point of illumination of said property line. Any measurements to determine the minimum and maximum lighting levels internal to a site will be measured by positioning the meter horizontally at ground level at the greatest and least points of artificial illumination. (f) Applicability. Modifications to the requirements of this Section may be approved as part of a Final Development Plan for a Planned Development Overlay District, pursuant to the provisions of Section htti)://www.ci.bloomington.mn.us/code/Code 19_23.html 04/06/2004 - is`loomington City Code Chapter 19 page 23 19.38.01, provided: (1) That any deviations from lighting standards established by this Section are clearly delineated in the plan submission reviewed by the Planning Commission and approved by the City Council; (2) That any deviations are consistent with the purpose of this Section; (3) That the minimum light level proposed provides a minimum of 75 percent of the illumination required in subsection 19.54-1; (4) That the height of support poles above grade does not exceed the maximum permitted by this Section by more than 25 percent, except that no development shall be allowed for increased support pole height within 500 feet of a protected residential property; (5) That no increase in glare occurs as a result of deviation from the adopted standards; and (6) That the lighting plan does not propose any deviations to the performance standards in subsection (c)(1) except as allowed in 19.54(f)(4). (Code, 1958 S 9.06; Ord. No. 54, 12-18-61; Ord. No. 69, 5-30-62; Ord. No. 96-35, 8-19-96; Ord. No. 98-52, 11-2-98) Page 7 of 7 httn://www.cl.bloomin2ton.mn.us/code/Codel9 23.htm1 n4in�nnn4 Saint Louis Park g. Lighting. All parking lots containing parking for six vehicles or more shall provide an average horizontal illumination of between 0.4 and one footcandle. The average horizontal illumination within all parking ramps shall be one footcandle. All lighting shall comply with section 36-363. Sec. 36-363. Special provisions regulating exterior lighting. (a) Purpose. The purpose of this section is to minimize the adverse effect of light and glare on operators of motor vehicles, pedestrians, and on residential and other land uses in the vicinity of a light source in order to promote traffic safety and to prevent the nuisances associated with the intrusion of spillover light and glare. (b) Applicability. The requirements of this section apply to all exterior lighting except lighting for signs which is covered under section 36-362 and street 'iighting within public rights-of-way. (c) General provisions. (1) The city shall require submission of a light distribution plan to ensure compliance with the intent of this section for all new development, redevelopment, and additions other than single-family and two-family dwelling units, which exceed 20 percent of the floor area of the principal structure after the effective date of the ordinance from which this section is derived. This plan shall include the type and arrangement of proposed lighting and proposed lighting levels in footcandles at all locations on the site including its property boundaries. (2) Upon completion of any lighting project, measurement of lighting levels of properties within the project must be shown to be within Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) standards as specified in the IES Handbook 5th Addition and shall comply with the provisions of this section. Mitigative measures shall be employed to limit glare and spill light to protect neighboring parcels and to maintain traffic safety on public streets and roadways. These measures shall include lenses, shields, louvers, prismatic control devices and limitations of the height and type of fixtures used. (3) Measurements shall be made after dark at the property line. (4) Exterior lighting shall be designed and arranged to limit direct illumination and glare in any contiguous parcel of land. Reflected glare or spill light shall not exceed five - tenths footcandle when the source of light abuts any residential parcel or one footcandle when the source of light abuts any commercial or industrial parcel or any public right-of- way measured at one foot above the ground. (5) The city may limit the hours of operation of outdoor lighting equipment if the city believes it necessary to reduce the impact of light on the surrounding neighborhood. (6) No flickering or flashing lights shall be permitted. (7) Lighting equipment shall not be placed or permitted to remain on a site if the light source or its reflected image can be viewed directly from a location off the site unless ornamental light fixtures are installed in the manner provided in a site and building plan approved by the city. Ornamental fixtures shall only be approved when the developer can demonstrate that undesirable off-site impacts stemming from direct or reflected views of the light source are eliminated by the fixture design or location of the lighting fixture. (8) No light source or luminaire shall be located within a bufferyard except on pedestrian walkways unless it is demonstrated that no other alternative to provide site lighting is available. (9) Light poles or standards for exterior lighting shall not exceed a height of 45 feet, except that poles or standards on the top level of parking structures shall not exceed 25 feet. (d) Outdoor recreational lighting. (1) Outdoor recreational facilities, such as baseball diamonds and other athletic playing fields which are in existence at the time of the ordinance from which this section is derived, are exempted from the exterior lighting standards of this section because of their unique requirements for nighttime visibility and their limited hours of operation. Outdoor recreational lights shall only operate between the hours of 4:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. (2) Any new lighting or replacement lighting shall meet the provisions of this chapter except for subsection (c)(9) of this section. Lighting facilities for these outdoor recreational uses shall not exceed a maximum height of 80 feet. (Code 1976, §§ 14:6-3.0--14:6-3.4) Shedding Light on the Urban Landscape ` By Fay Dolnick lumimire luminaire i btal colo{{ luminaire r i � � total cutoff peak candlepo�w;- 4 ` �co \ \ NO CUTOFF LUMINAIRE LUMINAIRE WITH LESS THAN 90° CUTOFF 90' CUTOFF LUMINAIRE The amount of cutoff provided in a light fixture protects against excessive glare and light trespass. A cutoff luminaire (right) ensures that no light is emitted above a horizontal line parallel to the ground. A luminaire with a cutoff of less than 90 degrees (middle) completely shields the light source from an observer five feet above the ground at the point Where the cutoff angle intersects the ground. Exterior lighting has seldom been a priority for planners, who often are not knowledgeable about the subject. This aspect of the urban environment more often has been idled by engineers, public works officials, and lighting trade and .tlity company representatives. Decisions concerning lighting types and design often have been made by those public officials who pay the bills and must face the grim reality of cost containment. But all that is changing. Several factors play a part in what seems to be the general public's increased interest in the visual environment. These include a heightened awareness of the aesthetic value of their communities, consciousness of environmental pollution, and increased fear of crime. These concerns have complicated the basic purpose of light—to illuminate and provide security—and can create situations in which these purposes are at odds with each other. Most communities have to recognize and deal with the problem of glare. Light trespass from one land use to another needs to be regulated. Residential neighborhoods must be protected from glare from parking lots, sports facilities, and other recreational events like outdoor concerts. Streets need to be lit well enough to give rdidents a feeling of security. The lighting must also be attractive enough to make commercial and recreational facilities inviting and create a lively and prosperous setting. This issue of Zoning News reports on communities that have produced inventive lighting plans and ordinances and have taken a holistic approach, addressing lighting in all areas of the community and involving a cross-section of citizens in the process. It also looks at some good regulations and the measures they take to control glare, protect privacy, and promote safety. fighting Glossary terior lighting types fall into two main categories— incandescent lamps (the type used to illuminate most homes) and the more prevalent high-intensity discharge (HID) lamps. Incandescent lamps produce light by heating a filament to high temperatures through an electric current while HID lamps produce light by passing an electric current through a gas. Very few communities in the United States still use incandescent lamps for street lighting because, although they produce a soft, white, attractive light, they are both costly and wasteful of energy. One community that does—Kennebunkport, Maine— is discussed below. HID lamps include mercury vapor, high-pressure sodium (HPS), low-pressure sodium (LPS), and metal halide. Mercury vapor lighting produces a harsh yellow light that is aesthetically unappealing but cheap to maintain. It was used widely in the United States until the introduction of sodium lighting in the 1970s. HPS has now become the nation's main source of exterior lighting. Because of its strong illumination and because it distorts color less than LPS, law enforcement officials prefer high- pressure sodium. For them, identification of suspects is crucial. Citizens have also come to prefer it as their fear of street crime intensifies. Some lighting professionals, however, feel that the safety feature has been overrated and that the glare produced by HPS is a hazard in itself. Metal halide produces a warm white light that is akin to incandescent lighting, is aesthetically pleasing, and produces excellent color rendition. But it suffers from high maintenance costs owing to a lower lamp life. "Group relamping rather than spot relamping is the answer to this problem," says Nancy Clanton, president of Clanton Engineering in Boulder, Colorado. Clanton says most of the costs of replacing lamps are labor costs and that replacing whole areas of lamps at one time regardless of whether or not all are burned out is a cost-efficient maintenance scheme. Lighting Plans Kennebunkport, Maine. This town has "one of the two best lighting ordinances in the United States," says Tony Dater, a consultant in Biddeford, Maine. His other choice: Tucson, Arizona. First developed in 1970 by a committee of citizens and planners chaired by city engineer Peter Talmadge, the Itsources Illuminating Engineering Society of North America 345 East 47th St. New York, NY 10017 212-705-7913 International Dark Sky Association 3545 North Stewart Tucson, AZ 85716 New England Light Pollution Advisory Group Daniel W.E. Green Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory 60 Garden Street Cambridge, MA 02138 R.E.S.V. Inc. Debra L. Sachs—Principal Investigator Michael Munson 11 Pearl St. Essex Junction, VT 05452 802-879-0605 Urban Consortium Energy Task Force Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission P.O. Box 108 Essex Junction, VT 05453 802-658-3004 De Chiara, Joseph and Lee Koppelman, Site Planning Standards, New York: McGraw-Hill, 1978. Kendig, Lane, with Susan Connor, Cranston Byrd, and Judy Heyman, Performance Zoning, Chicago: APA Planners Press, 1980. Listokin, David and Carole Walker, The Subdivision and Site Plan Handbook, New Brunswick, N.J.: Center for Urban Policy Research, Rutgers University, 1989. Smith, Thomas P., The Aesthetics of Parking, PAS Report No. 411, Chicago: APA 1988. Cutoff: the point at which all light rays emitted by a lamp, light source, or luininaire are completely eliminated (cut off) at a specific angle above the ground. Cutoff Angle: the angle formed by a line drawn from the direction of light rays at the light source and a line perpendicular to the ground from the light source, above which no light is emitted. provided at intersections, along walkways, at entryways, between buildings, and in parking areas. They also advise more lighting on commercial than on residential streets. As to the spacing and height of light fixtures, they suggest: ■ Spacing of standards shall be equal to approximately four times the height of the standard. ■ The maximum height of standards shall not exceed the maxi- mum building height permitted, or 25 feet, whichever is less. ■ The height and shielding of lighting standards shall provide proper lighting without hazard to drivers or nuisance to residents. The authors do not specify standards for shielding, but many lighting professionals say only full cutoff shields, which allow no light above a horizontal plane, are acceptable. Lane Kendig, in Performance Zoning (APA Planners Press, 1980), says a light fixture's maximum height should depend on the amount of shielding provided. Many uses have the option of providing a lower light post with a noncutoff type luminaire or a higher pole, up to sixty (60) feet with a luminaire that totally cuts off light spillover at a cutoff angle smaller than ninety (90) degrees. Kendig exempts outdoor lighting for night sports facilities such as baseball diamonds, playing fields, and tennis courts but requires that the illumination source be shielded at a 90 - degree angle. The IES recommends two footcandles of illumination for pedestrians to have good perception of obstacles more than 50 feet away on a street or sidewalk. It recommends two footcandles for attendant parking in a commercial area and one for self -parking. In Site Planning Standards, De Chiara and Koppelman concur, but some parking consultants advise that the real or perceived dangers of parking environments require an average of five footcandles for adequate safety. Cutoff Type Luminaire: a unit of illumination with elements such as shield, reflectors, or refractor panels that direct and cut off the light at a cutoff angle less than 90 degrees. Footcandle: a unit of illumination produced on a surface, all points of which are one foot from a uniform point source of one candle. Glare: light emitting from a luminaire with an intensity great enough to reduce a viewers' ability to see and, in extreme cases, causing momentary blindness. Light Trespass: the shining of light produced by a luminaire beyond the boundaries of the property on which it is located. Luminaire: a complete lighting unit consisting of a light source and all necessary mechanical, electrical, and decorative parts. All definitions are from Performance Zoning, except definitions of light trespass and glare, which come from the Kennebunkport, Maine, ordinance. Glare and Light Below are some examples of zoning ordinances that regulate glare and light spill by prescribing a combination of luminaire height, cutoff shields, and precise footcandle measurements. Greenwich, Connecticut, requires that, with some exceptions, all light sources be shielded so that, "[a]djacent to business uses, the light source shall not be visible at a height greater than five (5) feet above ground level" and "[a]djacent to residential uses, the light source shall not be visible at ground level or above." Any type of uplighting that is not lighting buildings, trees, shrubs, or site surfaces is prohibited. This ordinance does'not differentiate between residential and business zones except that perimeter lighting in residential zones must be limited to 0.1 footcandle anywhere along a property line. Vail, Colorado oil owow 1i parately from the site plan or landscape plan, and ... s ow the location, the height above grade, the type of illumination (such as incandescent, halogen, high-pressure sodium etc.), the source lumens, and the luminous area for each source light which is proposed." A pole light may not be higher than 35 feet in a commercial area, eight feet in a residential area, or eight feet in either if "affixed to vegetation." In commercial areas, all light sources higher than 15 feet must be fitted with a full cutoff shield. All flashing lights are prohibited. Eatontown, New Jersey. The light pollution ordinance requires that, "at the property line of subject property illumination from light fixtures shall not exceed 0.1 footcandles on residentially zoned property or 0.5 footcandles on business zoned property, measured on a vertical plane." IES recommended levels are to be used in roadway lighting, parking lots, and recreational and sports facilities. Shielding is required on almost all outdoor lighting. .ti Bronxville, New York, is still lit mainly by incandescent 'lighting. Provision is made for some fluorescent and metal halide lamps, but high- and low-pressure sodium, mercury - Night's Light Dims Stars and Irks Residents JOHN RATHER New York Times (1857 -Current file); Jul 15, 2001; ProQuest Historical Newspapers The New York Times (1851 - 2001) pg. LI2 Maxim al[ka far Tha NM York Thims Outdoor lighting at night is increasingly considered a form of pollution. Unshielded lights glared at the Stony Brook Long Island Rail Road station. Night's Light Dims Stars and Irks Residents By JOHN RATHER T a distance of 43 million miles from Earth, about as close as it ever comes, Mars appeared as a shimmering, red-tinged dot last weekend through the 13 -inch diameter telescope at the Custer Institute observatory in Southold, where public viewing is a Saturday night tradition. But at the 75 -year-old institute, a nonprofit amateur astronomy educa- tion center located In a surviving pocket of nighttime darkness on the North Fork, some say even closer Martian encounters are just up the road In.Nassau County. "The skies there are all orange and red at night," said Barbara Leb- kuecher, the institute treasurer. "It's horrible. You might as well be living on Mars." On Long Island, where a growing profusion of outdoor lighting now ob- scures the nighttime sky over wide areas of Nassau and Suffolk Coun- ties, stargazers and planet watchers are having increasing difficulty see- ing the heavens clearly, or at all. Equally important, intrusive and glaring lighting affects residents. Diminishing the view is an over- hanging pinkish -red canopy of light, a result of widely used high-pressure sodium fixtures on roadways mixed with mercury vapor and high -watt- age security.lighting. The sky glow, a result.of'artuicial light reflecting off 'airborne ,dust, haze or water drop- lets, blots out even the brilliance of the Milky Way from an expanding area of the Island where darkness no longer really falls. On the ground, security lighting casts glare beyond commercial and residential property lines Into neigh- bors' windows, at its worst IUuminat- Ing bedrooms with unwanted light and depriving people of sleep. Now New York may become the seventh state to pass legislation that addresses excessive, intrusive and energy -wasting outdoor illumination used for commercial buildings, high- ways, parking lots, municipal cen- ters and residential backyards. A bill to limit light pollution spon- sored by State Senator Michael A. L. Balboni, a Republican of East Willis- ton, and State Assemblyman Alexan- der B. Grannis, a Democrat from Manhattan, passed overwhelmingly In both houses late last month and is now before Gov. George E. Pataki. "This bill represents the next wave of environmental concern," Mr. Balboni said "It began with wa- ter, land and air pollution. Then peo- ple began to recognize that excessive noise was a pollutant. And now what we are recognizing Is that excessive, misdirected, ambient light is also a pollutant." If Mr. Pataki signs the measure, it will require that all new state and municipal lighting be shielded and directed to prevent light from beam- ing wastefully upward and producing unnecessary glare. Lighting already in place would not be affected, but, as older systems were replaced, gov- ernments would be required to In- stall new fixtures that focus light downward and use less electricity. The law would also create a viola- tion called light trespass that would allow local governments to curb resi- dential and commercial outdoor lighting that shines into neighbors' yards and windows. Violators would be asked to shield or reposition of- fending lights or face fines. "Anyone who has had an overzeal• ous neighbor put up security lights that shine into their bedroom at night knows the intrusive effect and the potential effect on sleeping of exces- sive lighting;" Mr. Balboni said He said at least six Long Island munici- palities have ordinances regulating such lights. The New York measure, which Mr. Balboni described as more sweeping than those in force in the six other states, would also empower the New York State Department of Environ- mental Conservation to designate so- called dark areas where nighttime fighting would be minimized in order to protect what Mr. Balboni de- scribed as the nighttime wilderness. The department would also be re- quired to devise a model outdoor lighting ordinance and distribute it to local governments.. I . Mr. Balboni said there was evi- dence that excessive, poorly de- signed nighttime lighting could af- fect photosynthesis and bird migra- tion. He cited an environmental group's estimate that $3 billion to $4.5 billion a year of electricity was wasted nationwide because of light shining uselessly into the night sky. Other advocates of lighting curbs say excessive nighttime light im- pedes the pineal gland in the brain from producing the hormone melato. nin, whose production in darkness is associated with physiological changes leading to sound sleep. Joseph E. Conway, a spokesman for Mr. Pataki, said Mr. Pataki had not yet decided whether to sign Mr. Balboni's measure. "We are still In the process of reviewing the details of the legislation," Mr. Conway said. Mr. Balboni said last week that if Mr. Pataki vetoed the bill, he would immediately offer an amended ver- sion or reintroduce a similar bill in die next session. The state moves to limit excessive and intrusive illumination. Asked whether poorly designed lighting was wasting electricity, Richard M. Kessel, the Long Island Power 'Authority chairman, said: "There is always waste with outdoor lighting, but it is obviously important to many businesses, residential com- munities, municipalities and school districts for security purposes." The authority's Night Light pro- gram offers special rates for busi- nesses and municipalities that install security lighting and promotes greater use of nighttime lights. Mr. Kessel said night lighting had no effect on the authority's ability to meet peak demand, which occurs during hot summer days. "If you limited nighttime lighting, you could create dangerous situa- tions," Mr. Kessel said. "Nighttime lighting is important to hold down robbery and vandalism" Groups striving to bring light pol- lution to public attention said there was no evidence that excessive out- door lighting lessened crime. In fact, the groups said, at least one study showed that graffiti vandalism was actually worse in locations that were highly illuminated at night They said the New. York measure marked a breakthrough. "This will bring a .lot of new awareness," said Susan Harder, a retired art dealer from East Hamp- ton and a member of the Internation- al Dark -Sky Association. "People will begin to realize they don't need so many watts to light up a quarter of an acre in their backyard." Ms. Harder said more efficient, light -directing fixtures were now widely available. "There is no reason to have bad lighting except that peo- ple are too IW'to t:fiaiige it," she said. She also said'tt that.Governor Pataki signed: thp. bi11,'governments and agencies would no longer install lights she referred to as "glare bombs" on roads and highways. Gary Citro, a music teacher from Hicksville and a member of Selene, the acronym for a group called Sen- sible and Efficient Lighting to En- hance the Nighttime Environment, said light pollution was growing worse in Nassau County. "There is really nowhere you can go to really. see a dark sky," he said. Mr. Citro, an amateur astronomer, said objects in the sky he could see clearly five years ago were new fad- ing. The reason;' he- said, was the installation df"moireand more light- ing that was poorly designed." "We are not•calling,for the elimi- nation of lightifig." he said. "We are very concerned about people's safety and security. What we are calling for is the elimination of bad and ineffi- cient lighting.`' At the Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum in Centerport, Its executive director, J. Lance Mallamo, said school shows at the museum plane- tarium were adjusted to reflect the night sky on Long Island. "Instead of a black sky, we gray it more," he said. Many of the students, he said, were unfamiliar with a black sky and objects visible.in lt;; „. Mr. Manama said the museum also changed to incandescent white lights in its parking:lot.because high- pressure sodium.,fixtures,were so bright they Interfered with observa- tion sessions from the planetarium's 16 -Inch diameter telescope. ■ Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. 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Steve Orfield says pedestrian lighting "Lighting is thought of as a quantity is a matter of quality, not quantity. problem rather than a quality problem; it is 97 percent a quality problem," he said from his lighting and acoustic testing facility, 2709 E. 25th St. "Conceivably, the city could have a lighting standard where the lighting level is lower than it is now but where the ability to see is dramatically higher," he said. Orfield is not a disinterested party. He wants to work with the city and lighting industry to develop the visibility standard, he said. Potential light vendors then would pay his firm to test their light fixtures. If they meet the visibility standard, the company would qualify to compete for city lighting contracts. Orfield said his firm worked on the lighting at the University of Minnesota's Mariucci Arena, to improve visibility for both spectators and players. It has created lighting systems for industrial clients, such as Harley Davidson. At his lab, Orfield demonstrates how less light is more for a worker looking for part imperfections. He turns on one high-intensity light to show how it reflects off the part. The glare would make it difficult for an inspector to see the flaw. A much softer - and better -targeted light - makes the imperfection much easier to see. Councilmember Dan Niziolek (10th Ward) has toured Orfield's lab and has pushed for a lighting visibility standard for six years, both as a Councilmember and in his previous job as a city crime -prevention specialist. He said it would improve public safety and aesthetics. "Drive down Hennepin and look at how much glare is there. Then go down Excelsior [Boulevard]," he said. "They have hooded their lights. There isn't much glare. Most of it shines straight down on the sidewalk [and] they have http://www.swjoumal.com/articles/2005/01/20/news/newsO6.txt 9/12/2005 r � • Archives illuminated the trees. It is a much softer, more enjoyable environment and [has] much better visibility." Councilmember Sandy Colvin Roy (12th Ward), chair of the Public Works and Transportation Committee, said she supports creating a lighting visibility standard. Her committee asked city staff to work with Orfield labs and report back in February. The Council already is working on a city lighting policy, which, among other things, would set appropriate light levels for residential, pedestrian and the central business district. Pedestrian -level lights have been popular with neighborhood groups. Some initiated their own lighting programs, in part to improve safety. They paid for them through special assessments and/or Neighborhood Revitalization Program money. The City Council put a moratorium on new neighborhood pedestrian lighting programs in 2002, until it created a lighting policy. A draft policy includes approved fixtures and poles and a petition process for neighborhood groups to follow. Colvin Roy said her committee delayed approving the draft policy until it could address the visibility issue. She called it part of a government trend - "moving away from just measuring the number of widgets and instead trying to determine whether the widgets are effective." Orfield said because pedestrian -level lights are on shorter poles, the light is more likely to shine in people's eyes. That creates glare. Typically, city codes require that lights illuminate the sidewalk with a certain amount of light, but don't address glare, he said. A city visibility standard could require fixture designs that both improve the quality of light on the sidewalk, reduce the light directly in people's faces and make it easier to see. The low -glare fixtures would also be more energy-efficient, he said. High -glare fixtures shoot light horizontally, where it isn't needed. Older people are 200 times more sensitive to glare than younger people, Orfield said. "What we should be doing is making it easier for the least able of our population to function. We are making it more difficult," he said. Jon Wertjes, the Public Works Department's point person on the lighting code, said the question is whether the city could lower the lights to pedestrian level, reduce glare - and make it cost-effective. He had not heard public complaints about glare from existing pedestrian -level lights, he said. He planned to talk to Orfield, lighting industry representatives, the Illuminating Engineering Society and other cities to evaluate a visibility Page 2 of 3 httD://www.swioumal.com/articles/2005/01/20/news/news06.txt 9/12/2005 Archives standard. "We are going to be challenged to try to figure out what that 'quality' means," he said. Orfield said he is not aware of any city in the country that has created a lighting visibility standard. He did not have an estimate of what it would cost to develop the standard and test the lights. The project didn't need to cost the city anything, he said. The lighting vendors themselves could pay for the testing. Niziolek agreed the city needed to do a better job with its outside lights. Page 3 of 3 "We don't think about how annoying lighting is in our environment and how much, especially as we age, how much it hurts our ability to see," he said. Home News Southwest Life Classifieds Neighbors Opinion About Us Advertising Info Staff Profiles E-mail Directory Archives Businesses Directories Place An Ad Subscribe Supplements SWJ Events http://www.swjoumal.com/articles/2005/01/20/news/newsO6.txt 9/12/2005 r Document View Page 1 of 5 a Back to Document View Databases selected: Multiple databases... startribune.com What's new Keeping the stars in sight; GROWTH IN THE TWIN CITIES AND AROUND MINNESOTA CONTINUES TO BLOT OUT CELESTIAL SIGHTS. FOR SOME, IT'S THE LATEST QUALITY -OF -LIFE ISSUE.; [METRO Edition] Bill McAuliffe, Staff Writer. Star Tribune. Minneapolis, Minn.: Nov 14, 2004. pg. 1.A People: Fish, Dan, Kauper, Michael, Anderson, Carl Author(s): Bill McAuliffe, Staff Writer Section: NEWS Publication title: Star Tribune. Minneapolis, Minn.: Nov 14, 2004. pg. 1.A Source type: Newspaper ISSN/ISBN: 08952825 ProQuest document ID: 737132071 Text Word Count 1392 Document URL: http://proquest.umi.com/pgdweb?did=737132071&sid=3&Fmt=3&cli e nt l d=2256& RQT= 309 & V N a me= PQ D Abstract (Document Summary) - The Fishes last year prevailed on Ham Lake and a subdivision developer to install streetlights that reduce sideways glare, focusing it more directly on the street. Now, said city administrator Doris Nivala, the city is requiring "cutoff' lighting in all new developments. Carl Anderson, manager of visibility research for the Federal Highway Administration, said there's been widespread agreement that roadway lighting can be improved so roads are lit more effectively and the sky stays dark. Most street and highway lights today, with "drop" lenses, cast light sideways and even slightly upward, so they can actually be seen from planes. They also tend to cast a glare into drivers' eyes that can reduce visibility, he said. Full cutoff fixtures will eliminate horizontal and upward lighting as well as some glare. But directing light more narrowly to the pavement below could require more fixtures closer together, and thus more public expense, Anderson said. Dark -sky advocates counter that money would be saved in the long run by eliminating wasted energy. Anderson also said the new lights may bounce more light directly upward, defeating the shielding purpose, he said. Full Text (1392 words) (Copyright 2004 Star Tribune) Light has always been the mark of human achievement and comfort - the symbol of knowledge, the enabler of industry, a flag planted in a tamed land. For rural dwellers, artificial light let them join the mainstream of society. But in the North Star State, with more people unable to see the North Star through the glow of city and suburb, some people are trying to adjust the shades. "I think it's a quality -of -life issue," said Maline Fish of Ham Lake, who with her husband, Dan, owns a telescope shop in Mounds View. Both are avid amateur astronomers. "If you can maintain the visual connection to the sky, I think people are more connected to their world. I think it's soothing to people." When Dan Fish was recently talking about the Milky Way to a group of gifted and talented elementary schoolchildren, he got blank stares in return. Document View Page 2 of 5 "And I realized, these kids have never seen the Milky Way," Fish said. Artificial night light, particularly when it beams into the sky, is called "light pollution" by dark -sky advocates. Its impact was notable during last year's blackout in the northeastern United States, when New York City residents could suddenly see the Milky Way and meteors. Others in the discussion talk about "light trespass" - unwanted light from residential, public, commercial and industrial neighbors. There's also plain old "glare" - bright light in the eyes that can blot out backgrounds. None of it is poisonous. It doesn't smell bad. It doesn't dirty the water. But that doesn't mean it should be ignored some say. And many are taking action. - The Fishes last year prevailed on Ham Lake and a subdivision developer to install streetlights that reduce sideways glare, focusing it more directly on the street. Now, said city administrator Doris Nivala, the city is requiring '.cutoff" lighting in all new developments. - In Chatfield, in southeastern Minnesota, the city of only 2,400 people was putting out enough night glow that residents of outlying townships asked officials to try to tone it down. They've been installing cutoff lights in new developments and replacing existing streetlights as needed. - Minneapolis, meanwhile, has been seeking public opinions to help develop a comprehensive street lighting plan. John Wertjes, director of traffic and parking services, said the issue of skyward light has hardly been raised. At least one man, however, amateur astronomer and day-care operator Michael Kauper, has written the entire City Council advocating cutoff streetlights. "It's an uphill battle," Kauper said. Star gauging Anyone who's been in a deserted place on a moonless night knows the sensation of standing among the stars. Beneath the arc of the Milky Way, pinpoints of light glitter all the way down to the horizon. By some estimates, more than 2,000 of them are visible to the naked eye. On the same night, people strolling in downtown Minneapolis might see just 50 or 100. Bob Bonadurer, director of the Minnesota Planetarium Society, said that over the past 20 years the Milky Way has become increasingly hard to see from Afton State Park, one of his favorite viewing spots. He points to the growth of Woodbury as the reason. At the Eisenhower Observatory in Hopkins, director Ron Schmit said the increasing urban glow - from Minneapolis to the northeast and from his parking lot to the southeast - has reduced the 49 -year- old observatory's reach. Local skywatchers generally agree that the skies above Onan Observatory, at Baylor Regional Park just north of Norwood Young America, have lost their deep darkness. Another indicator of people's growing detachment from the night sky: The planet Venus is the planetarium's most frequently reported UFO, Bonadurer said. The debate over night glow naturally attracts the poets among us. "When we talk about how beautiful 'she' is, we talk about the stars in her eyes," said Kauper, who holds star -gazing parties in the yard of his Minneapolis day-care center. "When we talk about how lovely a place is, we say it's like heaven. http://proquest.umi.com.floyd.lib.unm.edu/pgdweb?index=4&sid=3&srchmode=l &vinst=... 9/12/2005 Document View Page 3 of 5 "The night is a beautiful thing. I can't tell you why, but we love it," he said. "And to be completely cut off from it is sad." Astronomers, on the other hand, often describe the starry night as a dwindling natural resource In Flagstaff, Ariz., where scientists at the Lowell Observatory discovered the planet Pluto in 1930, regulations on how streets and public and commercial buildings are lit have been on the books since 1959. But when San Diego and its surrounding county adopted light- limiting ordinances nearly 20 years ago, resolutions went beyond astronomy to address unwanted neighborly lights and "glare hazards." Meanwhile, wildlife and health advocates are being drawn to the issue, citing disruptions to animal migration patterns and the role of natural darkness in stimulating humans' production of melatonin, which regulates sleep cycles. Now astronomers, lighting engineers and highway and traffic safety consultants are coming together to try to develop national lighting standards. Carl Anderson, manager of visibility research for the Federal Highway Administration, said there's been widespread agreement that roadway lighting can be improved so roads are lit more effectively and the sky stays dark. Most street and highway lights today, with "drop" lenses, cast light sideways and even slightly upward, so they can actually be seen from planes. They also tend to cast a glare into drivers' eyes that can reduce visibility, he said. Full cutoff fixtures will eliminate horizontal and upward lighting as well as some glare. But directing light more narrowly to the pavement below could require more fixtures closer together, and thus more public expense, Anderson said. Dark -sky advocates counter that money would be saved in the long run by eliminating wasted energy. Anderson also said the new lights may bounce more light directly upward, defeating the shielding purpose, he said. Working it out Most cities have zoning rules that try to address glow from gas stations, billboards, parking lots and other night light sources. Meanwhile, in developing townships, there's a conflict between residents who want rural darkness and developers who want attractively lit communities. Some local governments require basic road lighting, some don't, and most don't have any design standards for such lights. Byron Westlund, executive vice president of Woodland Development, which worked with the Fishes and Ham Lake to establish the cutoff lighting strategy, said developers are finding themselves leading governments toward the newer technologies. Dan Fish also noted that individuals can cut down on wasted or ill -aimed light by choosing more effectively shielded fixtures for their homes and landscapes. The point, he added, is that Minnesotans need not be afraid of the dark: It brings on the stars. "These are the kinds of things," he said, "that enrich you, technically, spiritually, artistically." Bill McAuliffe is at mcaul@startribune.com. http://proquest.umi.com.floyd.lib.umn.edu/pgdweb?index=4&sid=3&srchmode=l &vinst=... 9/12/2005