AGENDA ITEM REPORT
TITLE:
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AN ORDINANCE REPEALING SECTION 13-374, LIGHTING STANDARDS AND REQUIREMENTS AND ENACTING A NEW SECTION 13-374, “OUTDOOR LIGHTING” IN ITS PLACE. (SECOND READING)(PUBLIC HEARING)
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BACKGROUND:
This Ordinance was approved at the First Public Hearing at the May 28, 2015 Commission Meeting with no changes or conditions. After further review of the ordinance staff recommends that a measure of light to further quantify the dark sky measures be added and that several definitions be further clarified. Changes include:
• Used Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA) definition for full cut-off fixtures
• Revised other definitions to reflect engineering terminology
• Matched definitions to words that mean the same thing (i.e., “bulb” and “lamp”)
• Changed the height of the recorded footcandles to three feet from two
• Quantified the language for lighting retrofit (i.e. 50% of building permit cost for renovation)
• Added a limit for exterior site lumens with a required table that shall be placed on the photometric plans
• Deleted/eliminated definitions include:
-ambient light; cumulatively illuminated; indirect light; tinted glass; point source of light; recessed luminaire
Because of the legislative draft formatting and to avoid confusion related to the changes in the language between first and second reading, we have highlighted sections that reflect any change from first reading on the attached ordinance. Additionally, we have attached a copy of the ordinance from first reading.
The City desires to amend Chapter 13 of the Land Development Code, Code of Ordinances, to include regulations pertaining to Outdoor Lighting.
The purpose of this amendment is to set outdoor lighting standards that will minimize glare, light trespass, and skyglow; conserve energy while maintaining nighttime safety, security, and productivity; protect the privacy of residents; minimize disturbance of wildlife; enhance the ambiance of the community; and ensure optimal viewing of night skies above Coconut Creek.
Staff presented the lighting principles of “Dark Sky” to the Environmental Advisory Board (EAB) in September 2014. The EAB directed staff to refine the concepts into a draft lighting ordinance, evaluate neighboring city lighting ordinances, confer with the Police Department on safety, and apply field work with a light meter as a local baseline site illumination study. The resulting draft lighting ordinance was presented to the Board at the November 2014 meeting. The EAB voted to send the project forward to the Planning and Zoning Board review. The Planning and Zoning Board, at its April 8, 2015 meeting, recommended approval.
DISCUSSION:
The ordinance includes new definitions and an expansion of the scope of the existing lighting ordinance in an effort to give staff and the community a clear understanding of the intent of “Dark Sky” principles and the requirements for achieving the newly proposed lighting standards.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval.
FISCAL IMPACT: N/A