§ 8-11. Outdoor lighting requirements.
A.
Applicability. All outdoor electrically powered illuminating devices shall be installed in conformance with the provisions of this section, the Building Code and the Electrical Code of the City of Saginaw as applicable and under appropriate permit and inspection. These lighting standards shall apply to all nonresidential uses in the City of Saginaw. Unless otherwise stated, this ordinance does not regulate lighting in public road rights-of way.
B.
Outdoor lighting plan. An outdoor lighting plan must be submitted separately from any required site plan or landscape plan on all public or private properties, including rights-of-ways, public easements, franchises and utility easements for approval by the building official. An outdoor lighting plan shall be submitted prior to issuing a building permit. Plans shall include the following:
1.
A layout of the proposed fixture locations.
2.
The light source.
3.
The luminous area for each proposed light source with proposed foot-candle measurements.
4.
The type and height of the light fixture or of the light source above grade.
5.
The type of illumination.
C.
General lighting requirements. The following general outdoor lighting requirements shall apply:
1.
Unless otherwise provided herein, illumination, where required by this ordinance, shall have intensities and uniformity ratios in accordance with the current recommended practices of the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA) as from time to time amended.
General Lighting Requirements
2.
Unless otherwise provided herein, all building lighting for security or aesthetics will be fully shielded type, not allowing any upward distribution of light. Wallpack type fixtures are acceptable only if they are fully shielded with 80-degree cut-off.
3.
No use or operation in any district shall be located or conducted so as to produce glare, or either direct or indirect illumination across the bounding property line from a source of illumination into a residentially zoned property, nor shall any such light be of such intensity as to create a nuisance or detract from the use and enjoyment of adjacent property. For the purposes of this section, a nuisance shall be defined as more that 0.25 of one foot-candle of light measured at the residential property line and 2.25 of one foot-candle at any adjoining nonresidential property line.
4.
Shielding shall be required in all outdoor lighting installations as specified below.
Lamp Type Shielding Low Pressure Sodium (LPS) Fully Shielded, with 80° cut-off High Pressure Sodium (HPS) Fully Shielded, with 80° cut-off Metal Halide Fully Shielded, with 80° cut-off Halogen Fully Shielded, with 80 cut-off Mercury Vapor Fully Shielded, with 80 cut-off Fluorescent Fully Shielded, with 80° cut-off Incandescent Fully Shielded, with 80° cut-off Any light source 50 watts and under Unshielded; Permitted Low intensity Neon, Krypton or Argon Discharge Tubes Unshielded; Permitted D.
Illumination.
1.
Measurement. Illumination levels of outdoor lighting shall be measured by a qualified professional according to generally accepted IESNA methods.
2.
Computation of illumination. Illumination at a point may be computed in lieu of measurement. Computation methods shall consist of a generally accepted IESNA method, using certified photometric data furnished by the fixture manufacturer, lamp manufacturer, photometric laboratory, or other reliable authority satisfactory to the city. Computations shall be based on new, properly seasoned lamps, diffusers and other appurtenances in place, and with proper regard taken for mounting height, relative elevation, natural and manmade objects.
3.
Limitations on neighboring property. The limit of illumination on neighboring property from one establishment shall be by zoning of the neighboring property. Maximum computed or measured foot-candles at the neighboring property line shall not exceed the limits provided in the following table:
Footcandles
Land Use Type Horizontal Single-family and two-family residential districts. 0.25 Nonresidential districts 2.25 E.
Nonresidential lighting parameters.
1.
All nonessential lighting shall be turned off after business hours, leaving only necessary lighting for nonresidential districts site security.
2.
Floodlights, accent, aesthetic, and security lights must be fully shielded.
3.
Parking lots and vehicle movement areas shall not exceed a maximum illumination value of 40 foot-candles nor a minimum illumination value of 1.0 foot-candles. Total pole and fixture height shall not exceed a maximum of 32 feet, measured from grade at the base. Taller poles may be considered in some situations upon approval of a special exception by the board of adjustments.
Nonresidential Lighting Parameters
4.
Display, building and aesthetic lighting must be externally lit from the top and shine downward. The lighting must be fully shielded to prevent direct glare and/or light trespass. The lighting must also be substantially contained to the target area.
5.
Limitations on establishment property. The maximum outdoor initial computed or measured luminance level on the establishment property shall not exceed 40 foot-candles outdoors at any point, except that lighting under canopies (such as service stations) shall not exceed 60-foot candles. Illumination measurements may exceed the maximum upon approval of a special exception by the board of adjustments.
F.
Public and semi-public recreational facilities.
1.
Any light source permitted by this section may be used for lighting of outdoor recreational facilities (public or private), such as, but not limited to, football fields, soccer fields, baseball fields, softball fields, tennis courts, or show areas, provided all of the following conditions are met:
a.
Any illumination level exceeding a maximum of 40 foot-candle must receive prior approval by the board of adjustments.
b.
All fixtures used for event lighting shall be fully shielded, or be designed or provided with sharp cut-off capability, so as to minimize up-light, spill-light, and glare.
c.
All events shall be scheduled so as to complete all activity before or as near to 10:30 p.m. as practical, but under no circumstances shall any illumination of the playing field, court, or track be permitted after 11:00 p.m. except to conclude a scheduled event that was in progress before 11:00 p.m. and circumstances prevented concluding before 11:00 p.m.
G.
Prohibited lighting elements. Unless otherwise authorized, the following shall be prohibited except upon prior approval by the building official.
1.
Laser source light. The use of laser source light or any similar high intensity light for outdoor advertising or entertainment, when projected above the horizontal is prohibited.
2.
Searchlights. The operation of searchlights for advertising purposes is prohibited.
H.
Exemptions. The following shall be exempted from the outdoor lighting regulations contained herein.
1.
All temporary emergency lighting needed by the police or fire departments or other emergency services, as well as all vehicular luminaries.
2.
All hazard warning luminaries required by federal regulatory agencies are exempt from the requirements of this section, except that all luminaries used must be red and must be shown to be as close as possible to the federally required minimum lumen output requirement for the specific task.
3.
Any luminary of 75 watts or less provided the accumulated illumination of 50-watt luminaries does not exceed 75 watts.
4.
Seasonal decorative lighting.
5.
The lighting of a local, state, or federal government flag.
I.
Temporary exemptions. Upon approval by the Administrative official, temporary exemptions from the requirements of this ordinance for a period not to exceed 30 days may be approved.
1.
Any person may submit a written request, on a form prepared by the city for a temporary exemption request. The request shall contain the following information:
a.
Specific exemption (s) requested
b.
Type/use of outdoor lighting fixture involved
c.
Duration of time requested
d.
Type of lamp and calculated foot-candles
e.
Total wattage of lamp(s)
f.
Proposed location of fixtures
g.
Previous temporary exemption requests
h.
Physical side of fixtures and type of shielding provided
i.
Such other data or information as may be required by the city manager's designee.
j.
Requests for renewal of exemptions shall be processed in the same way as the original request. Each renewal shall be valid for not more than 14 days or a time period designated by the administrative official.
k.
Approval for temporary exemptions will be based on the effect of location and use of outdoor lighting fixture.
J.
Nonconforming lighting. All luminaries lawfully in place prior to the date of the ordinance shall be considered as having legal nonconforming status. However, any luminary that replaces a legal nonconforming luminary, or any legal nonconforming luminary that is moved, must meet the standards of this ordinance. Screening devices and fence regulations.