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350-12.2 lighting(1) (2) A. B. (1) C. City of Northampton, MA Friday, September 15, 2017 Chapter 350. Zoning § 350-12.2. Lighting. Goals. It is the intent of this section to establish light standards that result in lighting systems that are designed, constructed, and installed to control glare and light trespass, minimize obtrusive light, conserve energy and resources while maintaining safety, visibility, security of individuals and property, and curtailing the degradation of the nighttime visual environment. All standards within this section must be met unless the Planning Board explicitly grants a waiver through site plan approval for lighting that does not conform to these standards. Such waivers may be granted if and only if these goals are being achieved and increased energy eéciency is achieved. Evenly distributed lighting throughout a site will minimize impacts on surrounding neighborhoods and increases eéciency. By directing light where it is needed and only the intensity necessary to serve the intended purpose, these standards will prevent glare and its harsh shadows and blind spots. Deçnitions. As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated: CUTOFF (FULL) FIXTURE A light çxture that, by design of the housing, does not allow any light dispersion or direct glare to shine above a ninety-degree or horizontal plane from the base of the çxture. FOOTCANDLE A measurement of light that equals one lumen per square foot. GLARE A light source that distributes enough intensity to cause loss of visibility or discomfort. This is typically caused when a light source is greater than the surrounding light to which the eye is accustomed. OUTDOOR LIGHT FIXTURES Permanently installed or portable illuminating devices used for èoodlighting, general illumination or advertisement. Such devices shall include, but are not limited to, search, spot and èoodlights for buildings and structures; recreational areas; parking lot lighting; landscape lighting; billboards and other signs; streetlighting; product display area lighting; building overhangs and open canopies. UPLIGHTING Any light source that distributes illumination above a ninety-degree horizontal plane. Standards. Any use permitted by zoning either by right or through any type of zoning relief in any district shall conform to the following lighting standards. All outdoor light çxtures and illuminated signs for all uses and structures within the City of Northampton shall be designed, located, installed and directed in such a manner as to prevent measurable light at the property lines and glare at any location on or oæ the property. If necessary, an applicant may need to provide photometric plans and/or manufacturing speciçcation sheets to show conformance with these standards. This standard shall be met through the following: All outdoor lighting shall have full cutoæ-type çxtures (See below.) Cutoæs shall shield bulbs from visibility and may consist of internal baêes or reèectors or external panels or other mechanisms. (a) (b) (c) (a) (b) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) General site lighting shall not exceed 90º, the horizontal plane of bottom of lamp çxture. No uplighting is allowed; parking, security and aesthetic lighting must shine downward. Spotlights used to illuminate buildings, signs or speciçc site amenities/features shall be targeted on such objects so as to prevent direct uplighting. Cutoæs shall limit lighting to a forty-çve-degree angle above the horizontal plane. Upward search or spotlighting of the sky for entertainment or advertising purposes is prohibited. Lighting shall be shielded to prevent direct glare and light trespass and shall be contained to the target area to the extent feasible. See below for examples of appropriate çxtures. Compiled by New England Light Pollution Advisory Group and International Dark-Sky Association. Luminaires with no cutoæ çxture used for mixed use or nonresidential uses may be allowed through a site plan approval from the Planning Board only when it is shown that a low-level wattage (8,000 lumens or less) is to be used, no glare will be present on streets or on adjoining properties and standards in Subsection C(6) below will be met. This may be appropriate for decorative purpose within neighborhoods or the Central Business or General Business Districts. Lights or luminaires without cutoæs may be used on or around residential structures if bulbs used do not exceed one-hundred-watt incandescent or the equivalent èuorescent (not to exceed twenty-çve-watt) or other type bulb and light glare will not be directed oæ site. Floodlighting for residential purposes should only be used with sensors and must be shielded to prevent glare for drivers and pedestrians, light trespass beyond the property line, and light above a ninety-degree horizontal plane. Light trespass beyond the property line, and light above a ninety-degree horizontal plane is prohibited. All nonessential lighting, including display, parking, and sign lighting, shall be turned oæ after business hours, leaving only the lighting necessary for site security. Site lighting output standards by district: Zoning District Maximum (footcandle) Site Average (footcandle) Footcandle at Property Line RR/SR/SC 0.8 NA 0 URA/URB/URC 3 1 0 GB/EB/NB/CB/PV 5 2 0 HB 5 2.5 0 GI and OI 3 1 0 NOTES: Standard for averaging as established by the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America. The Building Commissioner shall determine if light levels are being met. Based on this assessment, the property owner shall replace or modify çxtures to achieve compliance. 1 1 (7) (8) (9) (a) (b) (10) (11) (a) (b) (c) (d) (12) (1) (2) (3) (4) D. Lighting directed on buildings and wall signs shall conform to these output standards for commercial uses. (Maximum footcandles shown for various surface coloring/texture). These standards are in addition to those designated in Subsection C(6) above and shall not result in lighting that exceeds those allowed on the site as described in Subsection C(6). Surface Types Adjoining Residential Districts (footcandles) Business Districts (footcandles) Light (reèective) surfaces 5 15 Medium-light surfaces 10 20 Medium-dark surfaces 15 30 Dark (absorbing) surfaces 20 50 Pole heights shall be a maximum of 25 feet in parking lots for commercial and industrial uses within commercial and industrial parking lots and along streets. The maximum height in the Central Business, Entranceway Business, General Business, and Neighborhood Business Districts and in all residential districts shall be 16 feet. Greater pole heights may be allowed with site plan approval from the Planning Board. Lamp wattage should be lower on poles that are lower heights. Pole heights for streets shall not be greater than 25 feet in commercial areas and 16 feet for new residential streets, unless exempt public ways. Streetlights shall conform to the pole standards above and shall conform to these light output standards: Commercial streets average between 0.8 footcandle to one footcandle; Local and collector streets average 0.3 footcandle to 0.8 footcandle. Signs should be illuminated from the top or internally illuminated. Internal illumination is allowed so long as it does not cause light to be directed upward or oæ the property boundaries and conforms to other standards herein. See also Subsection C(6) above. New England Light Pollution Advisory Group (NELPAG) International Dark-Sky Association Energy eéciency. The City encourages the use of energy-eécient lamps for all outdoor applications. Mercury vapor and incandescent lighting çxtures, except for single-family, two-family and three-family uses, are prohibited because they are the least energy eécient and contain elements harmful for the environment. In order of preference, the following represent lamp types that are recommended: Compact èuorescent white light. Low pressure sodium. Though these lamps may not provide accurate color rendering, they are appropriate for roadways, walkways, parking areas, and security lighting. Metal halide and èuorescent lamps when appropriate controls are used to ensure compliance with the standards within this chapter. High-pressure sodium. Exemptions. Permanent outdoor light çxtures lawfully installed prior to and operable on the eæective date of the requirements in this chapter must not create glare nor be visible from a residential structure in a residential zone on another property. Existing çxtures installed in accordance with criteria in aæect in March 2006, however, are exempt from new requirements herein. All replacement of outdoor lighting çxtures, as of the date of adoption, shall be subject to the provisions of this chapter. Airport operations lighting and aircraft navigational beacons as established by the Federal Aviation Administration are permanently exempt from these provisions. All other airport outdoor lighting must conform to the intent of this chapter. Festivals/fairs that require the use of temporary outdoor lighting çxtures are exempt except that permanent installations at dedicated sites must conform to the requirements of this chapter.