Town of Paradise Valley
Work Session Report
TO: Chair and Planning Commission
FROM: Eva Cutro, Community Development Director
DATE: February 7, 2017
CONTACT:
Staff Contact
Eva Cutro, 480-348-3522
End
AGENDA TITLE:
Title
Lighting Code Revisions to Article 22 Hillside Development Regulations, Section 2208 Outdoor Lighting; as contained in Ordinance # 2016-04.
Body
BACKGROUND:
Background
Revisions to the lighting code were discussed in detail at seven Planning Commission work sessions and a public hearing in September. Certain portions of the lighting code were outdated and did not reflect current standards. The lighting code was then discussed at a Town Council work session on November 3, 2016 and a public hearing on November 17, 2016. At that time the Town Council referred this item back to the Planning Commission for further study. The Planning Commission discussed this again on December 20th. At that time it was agreed that the Commission may not wish to change their original recommendation, but that further re-organization of the Ordinance may be necessary.
Staff and Chairman Strom chose to begin by re-organizing the Hillside section of the lighting ordinance while adding lighting types, and restrictions. It is recommended that after consideration of this section it can move forward to Town Council with the complete revisions to the Hillside Ordinance currently under review by the Commission.
Attached please find Ordinance 2016-04 with a redlined version of the Code sections with proposed revisions. This was the Ordinance that Planning Commission forwarded to Town Council for approval. It proposes:
Major Revisions to Section 2208 (hillside lighting) include:
• The definitions of Lumens, Beam Angle, Lighting Types, and Lux are new
• All references to wattage were removed and replaced with Lumens where appropriate.
• Lighting Functions section was created.
• Building Mounted Luminaires subsection was created
• Walkway and Driveway Entry Marker Section was revised for clarification.
• Language was added to security lighting requiring that the luminaire be motion activated and on a timer not to exceed five minutes (previously 10 minutes was allowable).
• String and Bulb light section was added.
• Timeframe for Temporary Holiday Lighting has been expanded from November 15th to October 15th through January 15th to allow for Halloween lights.
TOWN COUNCIL DISCUSSION:
Town Council discussed lighting at the November 3rd Work Session and November 17, 2016 Public Hearing. There were several items that needed further research.
String and Bulb lights
There was concern that String and Bulb lights are currently prohibited. Staff researched other lighting codes (Durango, Boulder, and Arapoe) that permitted string and bulb lights with restrictions. Town Council suggested the following language be added to the Town Code:
String and Bulb lights - A series of small lights along a coated wire.
String and Bulb lights are only permitted when associated with an outdoor living area adjacent to the main residence. String and Bulb lights shall not exceed fifty (50) lumens per bulb and shall meet all setbacks for the main house. String and Bulb lights shall not be in plain view from any Rights of Way.
Lux
Staff recommended adding LUX as an alternate measurement to Footcandles. The measurement for LUX is ten times the measurement for Footcandles. Town Council recommends the following definition be added to the Town Code:
Lux- unit of illuminance, equal to one lumen per square meter.
The Lux measurement will also be added to the Code after all Footcandle measurements, for example:
The maximum lighting intensity shall not exceed 0.25 Footcandle or 2.5 Lux when measured at the property line.
Height of Entry Lighting
There was discussion on the height of required lighting at doors to a residence. A maximum height of 8.5 feet was originally proposed in the Ordinance. After additional study and conversation with lighting experts, staff recommended that the height limitation be removed so that lights may be mounted in accordance with the size of the entryway:
Wall mounted entry Luminaires not to exceed 8.5 feet above finished grade and shall be shielded in such a manner as to avoid creating concentrated light (hot spots) on the structures to which they are mounted.
Town Council also discussed what type of lights should be allowed as entry lighting. The non-hillside restrictions limit entry lighting to shielded luminaires. Hillside Code allows two translucent fixtures at the main entry to the structure.
Tree Lighting
Lastly, Town Council discussed Tree Lighting. An allowance for tree lighting was added to the Code; however, the lights were limited to 8.5 feet above ground. In discussions with lighting experts it was noted that the bottom of the tree canopy may be higher than 8.5 feet above ground and that the tree lights may be hanging under the canopy. In addition, when fixtures are placed higher and deeper inside a tree they increase shadows and decrease light levels, a more desired effect. Staff recommended the following language be revised in the proposed Ordinance:
Tree-Lighting - Exterior Luminaires affixed to trees shall not exceed 8.5 feet above the finished grade be located two branches above the lowest branch and deep into the tree canopy to limit light trespass outside the tree canopy. Luminaires shall not exceed 150 Lumens, shall be Fully Shielded down lights, and shall not exceed three (3) Luminaires per tree.
There was also discussion at Town Council of not regulating types of luminaires and/or lumens; rather, just limiting footcandles/lux at the property line. These items will be discussed in more detail at the Planning Commission work session.
Attachment:
Ordinance 2016 - 04 Hillside Redline version
Ordinance 2016 - 04 Hillside Clean version