G30-02 Ordinance No. G30-02
AN ORDINANCE
AMENDING TITLE 19, ENTITLED "ZONING" OF THE
ELGIN MUNICIPAL CODE, 1976, AS AMENDED, BY ADDING
CHAPTER 19 . 13 ENTITLED "OUTDOOR LIGHTING"
WHEREAS, written application has been made to amend the Elgin
Zoning Ordinance provisions pertaining to outdoor lighting; and
WHEREAS, the Planning and Development Commission held a public
hearing concerning the proposed amendments after due notice in the
manner provided by law; and
WHEREAS, the Planning and Development Commission has submitted
its written findings and recommendation.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF ELGIN, ILLINOIS :
Section 1 . That Title 19 entitled "Zoning" of the Elgin
Municipal Code, 1976, as amended, be and is hereby further amended
by adding Chapter 19 . 13 entitled "Outdoor Lighting" to read as
follows :
Chapter 19 . 13
OUTDOOR LIGHTING
Sections :
19 . 13 . 100 Purpose and Intent .
19 . 13 . 105 Supplementary Regulations .
19 . 13 . 110 Conformance with Applicable Codes .
19 . 13 . 115 Applicability.
19 . 13 . 120 Outdoor Lighting Plan.
19 . 13 . 125 Control of Glare .
19 . 13 . 130 Outdoor Lighting Standards .
19 . 13 . 135 Measuring Light Levels .
19 . 13 . 140 Sign Lighting.
19 . 13 . 145 Outdoor Lighting- Nonconforming.
19 . 13 . 150 Outdoor Lighting - Public Nuisance .
19 . 13 . 155 Authorized Outdoor Lighting Variations .
19 . 13 . 160 Appeals .
19 . 13 . 100 PURPOSE AND INTENT.
It is the purpose and intent of the provisions of this chapter
to preserve, protect, and enhance the use and enjoyment of any and
all property through the use of appropriate lighting practices and
systems . Such lighting practices and systems control glare and
light trespass; conserve energy and resources while maintaining
night-time safety, utility, security, and productivity; and curtail
the degradation of the night-time visual environment .
19 . 13 .105 SUPPLEMENTARY REGULATIONS .
Any word or phrase contained within this chapter followed by
the symbol " [SR] " shall be subject to the definitions and the
additional interpretive requirements provided in Chapter 19 . 90,
Supplementary Regulations . The exclusion of such symbol shall not
exempt such word or phrase from the applicable supplementary
regulation.
19 .13 .110 CONFORMANCE WITH APPLICABLE CODES.
All "outdoor lighting" [SR] devices shall be installed in
conformance with the provisions of this chapter and Title 16,
Buildings and Construction.
19 .13 .115 APPLICABILITY.
The provisions for "outdoor lighting" [SR] control are
applicable to the use and development of all private and public
lands, exclusive of the following:
A. Public street lighting.
B. Temporary seasonal decorative lighting.
C. Specialized lighting necessary for safety, such as
navigational or runway lighting at airports or heliports,
temporary lighting associated with emergency operations,
road hazard warnings and other similar operations .
D. Outdoor recreational uses, such as ball diamonds, playing
fields, and tennis courts, which have unique requirements
for night-time visibility and generally have limited
hours . These uses may exceed the lighting standards
provided, to the maximum extent possible, lighting is so
located and directed to minimize spillover on to
residential properties; and where spillover is
unavoidable, a landscaped buffer yard is provided.
19 .13 .120 OUTDOOR LIGHTING PLAN.
An "outdoor lighting" [SR] plan shall be submitted to the
Department of Code Administration and Development Services before
the installation or modification of any "outdoor lighting" [SR] ,
except as exempted in Section 19 . 13 . 115 and Section 19 . 13 . 130B, to
determine compliance with the requirements of this Chapter. The
submission of an "outdoor lighting" [SR] plan shall not be required
to perform routine maintenance on any existing "outdoor lighting"
[SR] Cating The "outdoor lighting" [SR] plan shall include a site plan
�+. the location of light fixtures and intensity of
F "footcandles" [SR] at various points on the site, catalogue cuts of
the proposed fixtures, and a summary table indicating the maximum
average footcandles, maximum footcandles, minimum footcandles,
"uniformity ratio" [SR] , lumen rating for each lamp type, maximum
footcandles at a residential property line and/or public street
right of way line, "luminaire height (s) " [SR] , and "light loss
factor" [SR] .
19 . 13 . 125 CONTROL OF GLARE.
Any "luminaire" [SR] with a "lamp" [SR] or lamps rated at a
total of more than 1800 "lumens" [SR] , and all "spot or flood
luminaires" [SR] with a "lamp" [SR] or lamps rated at a total of
more than 900 "lumens" [SR] , shall not emit any direct light above
a horizontal plane through the lowest "direct light" [SR] emitting
part of the "luminaire" [SR] .
Any "luminaire" [SR] with a "lamp" [SR] or lamps rated at a
total of more than 1800 "lumens" [SR] , and all "flood or spot
luminaires" [SR] with a "lamp" [SR] or lamps rated at more than 900
"lumens" [SR] , shall be mounted at a height equal to or less than
twenty-five (25) feet, when the luminaire is located within fifty
(50) feet of a residential property line or a public street right
of way line.
19 . 13 . 130 OUTDOOR LIGHTING STANDARDS.
A. The installation and use of "outdoor lighting" [SR] on any
"land use" [SR] shall be subject to the "outdoor lighting"
[SR] standards applicable to the zoning district in which the
"land use" [SR] is located. Except as regulated by Section
19 . 13 . 125 Control of Glare, the "outdoor lighting" [SR]
standards for each zoning district shall be as follows :
Underlying Maximum Footcandles Uniformity Maximum
Zoning Average (Minimum on Ratio[SR] Height of
District Footcandles Pavement) (Avg:Min) Luminaire
Classifica-
tion
Residential 3 0.6 4 :1 25 feet
Chapters
19.20 and
19.25
Community 4 0.6 4:1 30 feet
Facility
Chapter
19.30
Business 5 0.6 4 :1 40 feet
Chapter
19.35
Industrial 5 0.6 4 :1 40 feet
Chapter
19.40
B. "Outdoor lighting for "Single Family Detached Dwellings" [SR] ,
and "Multiple Family Dwellings" [SR] with "Residential Parking
Areas" [SR] shall be exempt from the outdoor lighting standards
of this chapter, provided that the outdoor lamps have a power
rating of less than or equal to 100 watts .
C. The "light loss factor" [SR] shall be a minimum of 0 . 75 and a
maximum of 0 . 8 "footcandles" [SR] .
D. The maximum "light trespass" [SR] permitted to spill over onto
any residential zoned property or public street right of way
from any community facility, business, or industrial zoned
property shall not exceed one/half (0 . 5) horizontal
footcandles .
19 . 13 . 135 MEASURING LIGHT LEVELS.
Light levels of both "direct light" [SR] and "indirect
light" [SR] shall be measured in footcandles [SR] with a direct
reading, portable light meter. Readings shall be taken only after
the cell has been exposed long enough to provide a constant
reading.
Horizontal footcandle measurements shall be taken at a height
of three and one-half (3 . 5) feet above the ground.
19 . 13 . 140 SIGN LIGHTING.
All lighting fixtures used to illuminate a sign shall be
designed to focus light on the sign. Ground mounted lighting
fixtures shall be screened with plant materials, walls, berms, or
any combination thereof, so that the light source is not visible .
19 .13 .145 OUTDOOR LIGHTING - NONCONFORMING.
"Outdoor lighting" [SR] in existence prior to the effective
date of this chapter and not in conformance with the requirements
of this chapter shall be considered nonconforming . Nonconforming
"outdoor lighting" [SR] shall be subject to the provisions of
Chapter 19 . 52 , Nonconforming Uses and Structures .
19 . 13 . 150 AUTHORIZED OUTDOOR LIGHTING VARIATIONS.
Variations from the "outdoor lighting" [SR] requirements of
this title may be granted only in conformance with the provisions
of Chapter 19 . 70, Variations and only in the following instances
and no others :
rm. A. To permit an increase in the maximum illumination of a
site .
B. To permit an increase in the maximum mounting height of
a "luminaire (s) " [SR] .
19 . 13 .155 APPEALS.
Any requirement, determination, or interpretation associated
with the administration and enforcement of the provisions of this
title may be appealed subject to the provisions of Chapter 19 . 70,
Appeals .
Section 2 . That Title 19 entitled "Zoning" of the Elgin
Municipal Code, 1976, as amended, be and is hereby further amended
by amending Section 19 . 90 . 015 entitled "Definitions and
Regulations" by adding the following :
"Outdoor Lighting" shall mean the night-time illumination of
an outside area or object by any manufactured device located
outdoors that produces light by any means and shall encompass
the terms and regulations set forth below.
"Direct Light" shall mean light emitted directly from the
lamp, off of the reflector or reflector diffuser, or through
the refractor or diffuser lens, of a luminaire .
"Indirect Light" shall mean direct light that has been
l reflected or has scattered off of other surfaces .
"Footcandle" shall mean a unit of illumination on a surface,
all points of which are one (1) foot from a uniform point
source of one (1) standard candle .
"Light Loss Factor" shall mean the light loss of a luminaire
with time due to the lamp decreasing in efficiency, dirt
accumulation, and any other factors that lower the effective
output with time .
"Lamp" shall mean the component of the luminaire that produces
the actual light .
"Light Trespass" shall mean light falling where it is not
wanted or needed.
"Luminaire" shall mean a complete lighting system including a
lamp, or lamps and a fixture .
"Luminaire Height" shall mean the vertical distance from the
ground directly below the centerline of the luminaire to the
lowest direct light emitting part of the luminaire .
rft. "Lumen" shall mean a unit of luminous flux. One footcandle is
one lumen per square foot .
r
"Uniformity Ratio" shall mean the average level of
illumination in relation to the lowest level of illumination
for a given area.
Section 3 . That all ordinances or parts of ordinances in
conflict with the provisions of this ordinance be and are hereby
repealed.
Section 4 . That this ordinance shall be in full force and
effect after its passage and publication in the manner provided by
law.
Ed Schock, Mayor
Presented: April 24 , 2002
Passed: April 24 , 2002
Omnibus Vote : Yeas : 7 Nays : 0
Recorded: April 25, 2002
Published: April 26, 2002
Attest :
Dolonna Mecum, City Clerk