18C-048 (5) r
(11) 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 off the property boundaries and conforms to other standards herein.
See also Subsection C(6) above.
(12) Energy efficiency. The City encourages the use of energy-efficient lamps for all outdoor applications. Mercury
vapor and incandescent lighting fixtures, except for single-family, two-family and three-family uses, are prohibited
because they are the least energy efficient and contain elements harmful for the environment. In order of
preference, the following represent lamp types that are recommended: (a) Compact fluorescent white light.
(b) Low pressure sodium. Though these lamps may not provide accurate color rendering, they are appropriate for
roadways, walkways, parking areas, and security lighting.
(c) Metal halide and fluorescent lamps when appropriate controls are used to ensure compliance with the
standards within this chapter.
(d) High-pressure sodium.
D. Exemptions.
(1) Permanent outdoor light fixtures lawfully installed prior to and operable on the effective 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 fixtures installed in accordance with criteria in affect in March 2006, however,
are exempt from new requirements herein.
(2)All replacement of outdoor lighting fixtures, as of the date of adoption, shall be subject to the provisions of this
chapter.
(3)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.
(4) Festivals/fairs that require the use of temporary outdoor lighting fixtures are exempt except that permanent
installations at dedicated sites must conform to the requirements of this chapter.
(b) Lights or luminaires without cutoffs may be used on or around residential structures if bulbs used do not
exceed one-hundred-waft or the equivalent fluorescent (not to exceed twenty-five-watt) or other type
bulb and light glare will not be directed off site.
(3) 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.
(4) Light trespass beyond the property line, and light above a ninety-degree horizontal plane is prohibited.
(5)All nonessential lighting, including display, parking, and sign lighting, shall be turned off after business hours,
leaving only the lighting necessary for site security.
(6) Site lighting output standards by district:
Maximum Site Average' Footcandle at Property
Zoning District (footcandle) (footcandle) Line
RR/SR/SC 0.8 NA
URA/URB/URC 3 1
GB/NB/CB/PV 5 2
HB 5 2.5
GI and SI 3 1
NOTES:
' Standard for averaging as established by the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America.
(7) 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).
(8)
Adjoining Residential Districts Business Districts
Surface Types (footcandles) (footcandles)
Light (reflective) surfaces 5 15
Medium-light surfaces 10 20
Medium-dark surfaces 15 30
Dark (absorbing) surfaces 20 50
9) 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 District, 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.
(10) 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: (a) Commercial streets average between 0.8 footcandles to one footcandle;
(b) Local and collector streets average 0.3 footcandles to 0.8 footcandles.
Link to City of No thampton Ordinances:
htto:/./v,mm,.e-codes.oeneralcode.com/codebook frameset :so%ea=fs&t=ws&-b=2225 A
CODE OF THE CITY OF NORTHAMPTON
CHAPTER 350 ZONING
§ 350-12.2. Lighting.
A. Goals.
(1) 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 efficiency is achieved.
(2) Evenly distributed lighting throughout a site will minimize impacts on surrounding neighborhoods and increases
efficiency. 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.
B. Definitions. As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
CUTOFF (FULL) FIXTURE —A light fixture 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 fixture.
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 floodlighting,
general illumination or advertisement. Such devices shall include, but are not limited to, search, spot and
floodlights 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.
C. 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 fixtures 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 off the property. If necessary, an
applicant may need to provide photometric plans and/or manufacturing specification sheets to show conformance
with these standards. This standard shall be met through the following:
(1) All outdoor lighting shall have full cutoff-type fixtures (See below.) Cutoffs shall shield bulbs from visibility and
may consist of internal baffles or reflectors or external panels or other mechanisms.
(a) General site lighting shall not exceed 901, the horizontal plane of bottom of lamp fixture. No uplighting is
allowed; parking, security and aesthetic lighting must shine downward.
(b) Spotlights used to illuminate buildings, signs or specific site amenities/features shall be targeted on such
objects so as to prevent direct uplighting. Cutoffs shall limit lighting to a forty-five-degree angle above the
horizontal plane.
(c) Upward search or spotlighting of the sky for entertainment or advertising purposes is prohibited.
(2) 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 fixtures.
(a) Luminaires with no cutoff fixture 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.
Qlihj of N urtharrtiTtan
'� � ° �Rttss�r�usrtts
DEPARTME�T OF BtILDING INSPECTIONS Y�
212 Main Street • Municipal Building ass
Northampton, M9 01060
INSPECTOR
Richard Perry
Northampton Nursing Home
737 Bridge Road
Northampton, MA 01060
April 8, 2008
Dear Mr. Perry,
I visited your facility again last night. The light fixtures in use at 737 Bridge Street
do not meet the requirements of the City of Northampton's Zoning Ordinances, §350-
12.2. 1 have included an unofficial excerpt from the regulations and the web site address
of the full ordinance.
The ordinance (350-12.2 (D) (1) specifically prohibits the use of any light, even
those that were installed prior to the date of the ordinance, that creates glare or is visible
from a residential structure in a residential zone on another property. Nearly all the
outside lights on the property, including the pole lights and wall pack lights do not comply
with this requirement.
Your site lighting has been non-compliant for many years. Our office has
received complaints dating back to January 2000. 1 have discussed this situation with
you on several occasions. I notified you on January 3, 2008 that you must correct these
violations by February 15, 2008. 1 agreed to extend the deadline if you provided an
acceptable completion date for the work. You did not provide that information. I therefore
issued a Notice of Violation (number 04512) of City Ordinances on April 2, 2008.
Penalties for violations of city ordinances may, upon conviction, be affixed in an amount
not to exceed one hundred dollars ($100.00)for each offense. Each day or portion of a
day that any violation is allowed to continue shall constitute a separate offense. I will
continue to issue Notices of Violation until this matter is resolved.
Feel free to call if you have any questions. Our telephone number is 587-1240
and our office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, excepting that we
close at 12:00 noon on Wednesdays. My email address is:
Ihasbrouckaa city.northampton.ma.us.
Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.
Louis Hasbrouck
City of Northampton
Local Inspector and Zoning Enforcement
Hasbrouck(c�citynorthampton.ma.us
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