§ 48-328. Specific lighting application standards.

(a)

Parking lots. Illumination standards for parking lots are based on anticipated vehicular and pedestrian activity. The standards are designed to provide the minimum lighting necessary to ensure adequate vision and safety in parking areas while at the same time minimizing glare. Uses with medium and low levels of vehicular activity have the option of providing cutoff or noncutoff fixtures.

(1)

High levels of activity include, but are not limited to, the following uses: automobile service station, convenience store, outdoor recreational uses, video store, attended car wash, financial institution, foodstore, theater, drive-in restaurant, drive-through restaurant.

(2)

Medium levels of activity include, but are not limited to, the following uses: retail, indoor recreational use, retail shopping center, hotel, medical offices, drugstore, home center, child day care center, municipal complex, indoor assembly, hospital, restaurant.

(3)

Low levels of activity include, but are not limited to, the following uses: professional office, religious complex, townhouse and multifamily dwellings, school, marina, wholesale, warehouse, self-storage complex, furniture or appliance store, private club.

(4)

Parking lot lighting shall meet one of the following standards:

a.

When all light fixtures are cutoff fixtures, the following standards shall apply:

Level of Activity	Maximum Maintained Footcandles	Minimum Maintained Footcandles
High	10.0 fc	0.7 fc
Medium	7.0 fc	0.5 fc
Low	3.0 fc	0.2 fc

 

b.

When light fixtures are not all cutoff fixtures, the following standards shall apply:

Level of Activity	Maximum Maintained Footcandles	Minimum Maintained Footcandles
Medium	3.5 fc	0.5 fc
Low	1.5 fc	0.2 fc

 

c.

Other uses:

Cutoff fixtures required	Maximum Maintained Footcandles	Minimum Maintained Footcandles
Sexually Oriented Businesses	10.0 fc	1.5 fc

 

(b)

Canopy lighting. Open canopies located over automobile service station gas pumps, drive-through banking facilities, and drive-in restaurants shall comply with the following standards:

(1)

Only the area directly below canopies may be illuminated such that illumination levels shall not exceed 15 maximum maintained footcandles and shall not be less than two minimum maintained footcandles.

(2)

Light fixtures shall be mounted only under the canopy and shall be either recessed, or cutoff fixtures.

(3)

Light fixtures shall not be located elsewhere on the canopy and the sides of the canopy shall not be internally or externally illuminated.

(4)

Parking spaces not located directly beneath the canopy shall be illuminated in accordance with the requirements for parking areas.

(c)

Security lighting. Security lighting may be utilized for the protection of people and property by illuminating areas of building ingress, walkways, and open storage areas. Security lighting may include vertical illumination, provided that illumination above the doorway, entry or window elevation is minimal. Security lighting shall not exceed one average maintained footcandle.

(d)

Architectural and interior lighting.

(1)

Light fixtures mounted on the walls and soffits shall be recessed, fully shielded or directed to the wall surface.

(2)

Floodlights may be utilized to up-light opaque wall surfaces from the ground, provided that the light fixture is located a horizontal distance no greater than 15 feet from the wall, shall not be mounted greater than 30 inches in height, and illumination levels measured at the vertical plane shall not be exceeded.

(3)

Floodlights located on a canopy roof surface may be utilized to uplight attached, opaque parapet wall surface and canopy roof lying between the light and the parapet wall surface, provided the roof mounted floodlights are located a horizontal distance no greater than 15 feet from the parapet wall, shall not be greater than 15 inches above the canopy roof surface, and illumination levels at the vertical plane shall not be exceeded.

(4)

The maximum vertical illumination level of an entrance facade or parapet wall shall not exceed five average maintained footcandles. The maximum illumination level shall not exceed one average maintained footcandle for other wall surfaces.

(5)

Supported, roofed walkways and porches may be illuminated up to 12 average maintained footcandles.

(6)

When a single interior, heated wall surface area of a building is 50 percent glass or greater, or interior light fixtures are visible from the property line or off-site location, the following requirements shall apply:

a.

Interior light fixtures shall be fully shielded or shielded to any cutoff angle required to prevent line of sight contact with the light source, lens or opening.

b.

Average interior illumination level shall be the minimum average IESNA recommended level of illumination for that particular use.

(e)

Lighting of outdoor recreational facilities.

(1)

General purpose area and sports lighting floodlight fixtures may be utilized, provided that all such light fixtures shall be directed or shielded such that the light measured at the property line does not exceed the following:.

a.

Horizontal illumination shall not exceed 0.1 initial footcandles for residential properties.

b.

Vertical illumination shall not exceed 0.6 initial footcandles for residential properties.

c.

Candela value shall not exceed 9,000 at between 82 degrees and 86 degrees above nadir.

(2)

Areas intended solely for pedestrian circulation, such as walkways connecting accessory buildings and viewing stands, shall be provided with security level illumination.

(3)

Light fixtures for the recreational use shall be turned off no later than 11:30 p.m. at private facilities unless otherwise specified. Light fixtures for multipurpose recreation fields shall be turned off no later than 9:00 p.m. at municipally-owned recreation facilities. Only security level lighting shall be utilized to facilitate cleanup and nighttime maintenance.

(4)

A single flashing navigational light may be used in conjunction with an approved boat rental establishment subject to the following provisions:

a.

The boat rental establishment shall provide documentation to the town zoning administrator that the light fixture and its location have been approved by the Commander, Fifth Coast Guard District, Portsmouth, Virginia.

b.

The light shall be used only when the business is open and between the hours of sunrise to one-half hour after sunset.

c.

The light source shall not be visible from adjacent properties and rights-of-way.

d.

Navigational lights shall not be used in conjunction with any permitted sign.

(5)

The following illumination levels shall not be exceeded:

Recreational Use	Average Maintained Footcandles
Bumper boats	5
Go-cart track	10
Miniature Golf	10
Tennis/handball	15
Municipally-owned recreation facilities	Minimum IES recommendation

 

(6)

Light fixtures for illumination of the recreational use at municipally-owned recreation facilities shall not exceed 70 feet in height.

(7)

Outdoor amusement rides below 35 feet in height shall be exempt from the lighting ordinance. These exemptions shall apply between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 11:30 p.m. and between the dates of May 15 and September 15.

(8)

Three rides over 35' in height per site shall be exempt from the lighting ordinance. The exemptions of paragraphs (7) and (8) shall apply between the hours of 9:00 am and 11:30 pm and between the dates of May 15 and September 15.

(f)

Illuminated signs.

(1)

Internally illuminated wall or freestanding signs that utilize fluorescent tubes as a light source shall be designed and constructed such that tubes are spaced at least 12 inches on center, and mounted at least 3.5 inches from the translucent sign surface.

(2)

Spotlights or floodlights may be utilized to externally illuminate wall and freestanding signs, provided that the light fixtures are designed, located, aimed, and shielded so that light is directed only onto the sign area. Light fixtures shall not be aimed toward adjacent streets, or properties. Floodlights designed to illuminate signs from the ground shall not be mounted at a height greater than 30 inches, or located a horizontal distance greater than three-quarters the height of the sign or 15 feet, whichever is less. The average level of illumination shall not exceed ten average maintained footcandles.

(Code 1990, § 22-255(h); Ord. No. 12-02-006, Pt. I, 2-1-2012; Ord. No. 13-01-003, Pt. II, 1-16-2013; Ord. No. 13-11-032, Pt. I, 11-6-2013; Ord. No. 13-11-033, Pt. II, 11-6-2013)