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_________________________________________________________________________________________ City of Arden Hills Planning Commission Meeting for July 9, 2014 P:\Planning\Planning Cases\2014\PC 14-019 - Zoning Code Amendment - Lighting Regulations\Memos_14-019 Page 3 of 3 Illumination The Ordinance would set a maximum lumen level for individual light fixtures. The purpose of this would be to restrict high-luminosity lights, which are more likely to create a public nuisance. A lumen is a unit measurement for the amount of light produced by a lamp. It contrasts with a watt, which is a measure of energy consumption. The limit would be set at 50,000 lumens for commercial and industrial properties and 30,000 lumens for residential properties. The standards included in the draft were taken from the exterior lighting ordinance adopted by the City of Bloomington, which went into effect in 2008. Before finalizing Ordinance 2014-006, staff would like to complete additional research on appropriate maximum lumen levels to ensure that these requirements conform with industry standards and are not overly restrictive. Height Limits A recommended maximum height limit of 35 feet is included in Ordinance 2014-006. This requirement would apply to light poles as well as light fixtures mounted to the exterior of a building. For properties abutting residential uses, within 50 feet of the property line light fixtures could be no more than 20 feet in height in order to reduce light trespass and glare. A similar provision is not included for when an abutting property is industrial or commercial. These uses often have shared or adjoining parking facilities and a more restrictive height limit within 50 feet of the property line may result in less efficient use of lighting for parking areas. Exceptions This section would exclude certain types of lights from the City’s exterior lighting standards due to their temporary nature or the City not having regulatory authority. Specific types of temporary lights that would not need to conform to these standards include exterior holiday lighting displays and lighting for sporting events. Federal and state agencies are often required to use certain types of lighting for public safety purposes, and these lights would also be exempted. A final exception is for the illumination of the national or state flag. When the national flag is kept up at night, federal law requires that it be illuminated. Requested Action Review the draft of Ordinance 2014-006 and provide staff with further direction. Attachments A. Ordinance 2014-006 – DRAFT B. Proposed Definitions for Exterior Lighting Regulations C. Planning Commission Draft Minutes, June 4, 2014 D. Excerpts from Section 1320 and 1325.05 of the Zoning Code