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(a) Gross emission of light. The total light output from all luminaires used for outdoor lighting on any zoning lot in a commercial lighting zone shall not exceed one hundred thousand (100,000) lumens per net acre. Lighting installations located under canopies shall only contribute fifty (50) percent toward this limit. This section shall not apply to street lighting, outdoor display lots, lighting installations for non-internally illuminated signage not exceeding eight hundred (800) lumens, and outdoor lighting of playing fields on public property.

(b) Light intensity and uniformity.

(1) Commercial and industrial lighting zones. During permitted hours of operation as defined within this article, outdoor lighting on any zoning lot in a commercial or industrial lighting zone shall comply with the following requirements for light level as measured in the plane of the illuminated surface:

Illuminated Surface

Minimum Light Level

Maximum Light Level

Noninternally Illuminated Signs, Building, and Ground - (light color)

5.0 footcandles

Noninternally Illuminated Signs, Building, and Ground - (medium color)

10.0 footcandles

Noninternally Illuminated Signs, Building, and Ground - (dark color)

15.0 footcandles

Auto Dealerships:

Front Row and Feature Displays

20.00 footcandles

Other Merchandise Areas

10.0 footcandles

Public Parking Areas*

5.0 footcandles

Vehicular Entrances from Right-of-Way*

0.2 footcandles

4.5 footcandles

Baseball/softball playing fields - Infield

60.0 footcandles

Baseball/softball playing fields - Outfield

30.0 footcandles

All other fields or tennis courts

30.0 footcandles

Automobile Service Station - Pumping Area

10 footcandles

30 footcandles

Drive-In/Drive-Through Canopies

15 footcandles

Building Entrance and Exit*

1.0 footcandles

5.0 footcandles

Stairways and Steps*

1.0 footcandles

5.0 footcandles

*Maximum to minimum light level ratio shall not exceed 15:1.

(2) Outdoor dynamic display (digital signage). The luminance for any outdoor dynamic display (digital signage) shall not exceed five thousand (5,000) Nits during daylight hours or one hundred fifty (150) Nits at all other times. Brightness must be measured from the brightest element of the sign's face. The applicant shall provide written certification from the sign manufacturer that the light intensity has been factory preset so that it will not exceed the luminance levels for day and night.

(c) Light direction and control.

(1) Residential, commercial, and industrial lighting zones. Any luminaire which is used for uplighting on any zoning lot in a residential, commercial, or industrial lighting zone shall have the necessary shielding and/or beam-angle control and/or shall be aimed to substantially confine the directed light to the object intending to be illuminated. Uplighting shall only be permitted for landscape lighting, architectural lighting, flag lighting, and lighting of ground-mounted signs that are not internally illuminated. Uplighting applications shall meet the following requirements:

Uplighting Application

Maximum Inclination

Maximum Light Output

Landscape Lighting

60°

1100 lumens (up to 45°)

800 lumens (up to 60°)

Architectural Lighting

45°

1100 lumens

Flag Lighting*

60°

1100 lumens (up to 45°)

800 lumens (up to 60°)

Sign Lighting**

45°

1100 lumens

*The tradition of lowering flags at sunset is encouraged to avoid the need for lighting.

**Ground-mounted, non-internally-illuminated signs only.

Typical 75W incandescent bulb or 50W low-voltage halogen landscape bulb.

Typical 60W incandescent bulb or 35W low-voltage halogen landscape bulb.

(2) Residential lighting zones. Any luminaire with a light output exceeding one thousand one hundred (1,100) lumens or seventy-five (75) watts, which is used for outdoor lighting on any zoning lot in a residential lighting zone shall have the necessary shielding and/or beam-angle control and/or shall be aimed so that the direction of all directly emitted light is at or below horizontal. If a motion-activated sensor that illuminates for no more than five (5) minutes upon activation is used, then such luminaire may have a light output of up to two thousand two hundred (2,200) lumens or one hundred fifty (150) watts. Any luminaire with a light output exceeding two thousand two hundred (2,200) lumens or one hundred fifty (150) watts, which is used for outdoor lighting on any zoning lot in a residential lighting zone shall have the necessary shielding and/or beam-angle control and/or shall be aimed so that the light source is not visible along any property line, as viewed at a height of sixty (60) inches above grade.

(3) Commercial or industrial lighting zones. Except as otherwise stated herein, any luminaire on any zoning lot in a commercial or industrial lighting zone which emits light directed at a building or outdoor feature shall be located at or above the top of the object and aimed and controlled so that the direction of all emitted light is at or below horizontal and the directed light is angled downward substantially confined to the object intending to be illuminated (example: flag, statue, and related).

(d) Light trespass. Except for street lighting, light emitted from outdoor lighting on any zoning lot shall not cause the light level along any property line, as measured at a height of sixty (60) inches above grade in a plane at any angle of inclination, to exceed the following limits:

Emitting Zoning Lot

Impacted Zoning Lot

Maximum Light Level

Residential Lighting Zone

Residential Lighting Zone

0.0 footcandles

Residential Lighting Zone

Commercial/Industrial Lighting Zone

0.5 footcandles

Commercial/Industrial Lighting Zone

Residential Lighting Zone

0.0 footcandles

Commercial/Industrial Lighting Zone

Commercial/Industrial Lighting Zone

0.5 footcandles

Public Lighting Zone

Commercial Lighting Zone

0.5 footcandles

Public Lighting Zone

Residential Lighting Zone

0.0 footcandles

Any property used for governmental purposes shall be exempt from the requirements of this section.

(e) Permitted hours for outdoor lighting.

(1) Commercial and industrial lighting zone. Except for street lighting, outdoor lighting (including, but not limited to, parking lot, area, architectural, landscape, and related) on any zoning lot in a commercial or industrial lighting zone is permitted to be lighted between one-half hour before sunset and 10:00 p.m. (CST) or one hour after the close of business based on normal hours of operation of the business, whichever is later. Thereafter, for safety and security purposes, security lighting is permissible at a total light output not greater than twenty-five (25) percent of the total light output from all outdoor lighting located on the zoning lot during permitted outdoor lighting hours. During security lighting hours, no luminaire may exceed its light output exhibited during permitted outdoor lighting hours.

(2) Property used for governmental and public purposes. Any zoning lot in any zoning district used for governmental or public purposes, except for street lighting, shall comply with the permitted hours and security lighting limitations for commercial lighting zones. In addition, outdoor lighting of the playing field of an organized sporting event on public property that is in progress at the close of permitted outdoor lighting hours shall be allowed to remain illuminated until thirty (30) minutes after the conclusion of the event but no later than 11:00 p.m. (CST) No outdoor lighting of the playing field for any sport or recreational purpose shall be initiated after 9:00 p.m. (CST).

(Ord. No. 1569, § 1, 2-28-13)