[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Village
of Greenwood Lake 2-1-2010 by L.L. No. 1-2010. Amendments noted where
applicable.]
The purpose of this chapter is to provide standards for outdoor
lighting to encourage lighting that conserves energy and resources
while providing safety, utility and security; minimize glare; protect
the privacy of residences; reduce atmospheric light pollution; and
enhance the Village's nighttime character.
The following definitions apply to terms used in this chapter:
A unit of illuminance amounting to one lumen per square foot.
An outdoor lighting fixture that, by design of the housing,
does not allow any light dispersion or direct glare to shine above
a ninety-degree horizontal plane from the base of the fixture. Fully
shielded fixtures must be installed in a horizontal position as designed,
or the purpose of the design is defeated, and direct glare will result.
The eye's line-of-sight contact with a direct light
source that causes annoyance, discomfort, or loss in visual performance
and ability.
The height of the luminaire shall be the vertical distance
from the ground directly below the center line of the luminaire to
the lowest direct-light-emitting part of the luminaire.
Density of luminous flux incident on a surface. Unit is footcandle
or lux.
Light from an artificial light source that intrudes into
an area where it is not wanted or does not belong. Light trespass
includes glare from direct light as well as unwanted spill light.
Light; lighting.
One lumen per square meter. Unit of illuminance.
The nighttime illumination of an outside area or object by
any man-made device located outdoors that produces light by any means.
A solar, wind or electrically powered illuminating device
or other outdoor lighting fixture, including all parts used to distribute
the light and/or protect the lamp, permanently installed or portable,
used for illumination or advertisement. Such devices shall include,
but are not limited to, search, spot, flood, and area lighting for
buildings and structures; recreational areas; parking lot lighting,
landscape lighting; signs (advertising and other); streetlighting;
product display area lighting, building overhangs, and open canopies.
An outdoor lighting fixture recessed into a canopy ceiling
so that the bottom of the fixture is flush with the ceiling.
Any light source that distributes illumination above a ninety-degree
horizontal plane.
A lighting unit designed for direct mounting on building
walls whose primary function is to light building exteriors.
A.
An applicant for any work involving outdoor lighting fixtures that
requires site plan approval shall submit, as part of the application,
evidence that the proposed work shall comply with this chapter. In
addition, the applicant for any work involving outdoor lighting fixtures
governed by this chapter occurring in areas of the Village of Greenwood
Lake shall submit, as part of the application for a building permit,
evidence that the proposed work will comply with this chapter. The
submission shall contain the following:
(1)
Plans indicating the location, height, orientation, type of illuminating
device, and wattage of each outdoor lighting fixture;
(2)
Description of the illuminating fixtures, lamps, supports, reflectors,
and other devices, including, but not limited to, catalog cuts by
manufacturers and drawings (including sections where required);
(3)
Photometric data, such as that furnished by manufacturers or similar
showing the angle of cutoff or light emissions;
(4)
Additional information that the Planning Board or Building Inspector
determines is necessary, including, but not limited to, an isolux
plan indicating levels of illumination in footcandles at ground level.
B.
Lamp or fixture substitution. Should any outdoor lighting fixture
or the type of light source therein be changed after the permit has
been issued, a change request must be submitted to the Building Inspector
for revised approval. The Building Inspector, in consultation with
the Village Engineer and Village Planner, shall review the change
request to assure compliance with this section. If the change request
is not substantial, the Building Inspector may approve it. If the
change request is substantial, the Building Inspector shall forward
such request to the Planning Board for an amended approval, which
must be received prior to substitution.
The provisions of this chapter are not intended to prevent the
use of any design, material, or methods of installation or operation
not specifically prescribed by this chapter, provided any such alternate
has been approved. The Planning Board may approve such proposed alternative,
provided it:
A.
General standards. All outdoor lights and illuminated signs shall be designed, located, installed, and directed in such manner as to prevent objectionable light at and across the property lines, and to prevent direct glare at any location on or off the property. The latest recommended levels for outdoor lighting set by the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IES) shall be observed. See sign regulations in § 120-42 for additional requirements.
B.
Prohibitions.
C.
Shielding. All outdoor fixtures, with the exception of those using lamps not requiring shielding cited in § 119-6, shall be fully shielded and installed in such a way that no light is emitted above a horizontal plane running through the lowest part of the fixture. The lighting shall also be shielded to prevent glare and/or light trespass, and shall be, as much as physically practical, contained to the target area. All light fixtures that are required to be fully shielded shall be installed and maintained so that the shielding is effective as described in the definition of a fully shielded fixture in § 119-2 of this chapter. Floodlighting is discouraged and, if used, must be shielded to prevent direct glare for drivers and pedestrians; light trespass beyond the property line; light above a ninety-degree horizontal plane.
D.
Light trespass. Light trespass from a property shall be designed
not to exceed 0.20 footcandle at the property line. For nonresidential
uses adjacent to residential property, no direct light source shall
be visible at the property line at ground level or above.
E.
Height. Unless specified elsewhere herein and except for recreational
facilities, such as baseball and other field sports, the maximum allowable
height of a freestanding luminaire shall be 16 feet above the average
finished grade. Exceptions to the maximum height limitations up to
25 feet above the average finished grade may be made when it can be
demonstrated that glare to off-site locations will not occur with
such higher fixture. The maximum allowable height of a building-or-structure-mounted
luminaire shall be 35 feet.
F.
Spacing. Space between fixtures should be approximately four times
the height.
G.
Time controls. All nonessential lighting shall be turned off after
business hours, leaving only the necessary lighting for site security,
which shall be reduced to the minimum level necessary. Nonessential
can apply to display, aesthetic, parking and sign lighting. Motion-sensor
security lighting is recommended to promote safety and reduce the
amount of night lighting in the Village.
H.
Auto/truck filling stations. Island canopy ceiling fixtures shall
be recessed.
I.
Recreational facilities, public or private. Lighting for outdoor
recreational facilities shall be fully shielded, as defined in this
chapter.
The table follows:
|
Fixture Lamp Type
|
Shielded
|
|---|---|
|
Low/high-pressure sodium, metal halide, quartz, and fluorescent
over 50 watts
|
Fully
|
|
Incandescent greater than 160 watts
|
Fully
|
|
160 watts or less
|
None
|
|
Any light source of 50 watts or less
|
None
|
|
Fossil fuel
|
None
|
|
Other sources
|
As approved by Planning Board
|
Light levels shall be designed not to exceed the latest recommended
levels for outdoor lighting set by the Illuminating Engineering Society
of North America (IES) for the type of activity/area being lighted,
except light levels for ATM machines shall be in accordance with the
New York State ATM Safety Act. Where no standard is available from
the IES, the applicable standard shall be determined taking into account
the levels for the closest IES activity. The uniformity ratio (average
to minimum) shall not exceed 3/1 for parking and traffic areas, nor
4/1 for pedestrian areas. Maximum-to-average light levels shall be
kept within a ratio of 6/1. Design should establish a hierarchy of
lighting to assure a smooth transition from bright areas to those
with subdued lighting. Light levels shall be maintained at design
levels with lamp or luminaire replacement as needed. Lighting in conformance
with this section is required for all parking lots having five or
more cars. The following current IES recommendations are to be observed:
|
Roadway Lighting, If Provided
| ||
|---|---|---|
|
Type of Road
|
Average Maintained Illuminance (fc)
|
Uniformity Ratio
(average to minimum)
|
|
Major road
|
0.6 to 1.6
|
3/1
|
|
Collector road
|
0.4 to 1.1
|
4/1
|
|
Local road
|
0.3 to 0.8
|
6/1
|
|
Parking Lots
| ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Level of Activity
|
Horizontal Average
(fc)
|
Illuminance Minimum
(fc)
|
Uniformity Ratio
| |
|
High:
|
3.6
|
0.9
|
4/1
| |
|
Major league athletic events
| ||||
|
Major cultural or civic events
| ||||
|
Large shopping centers
| ||||
|
Fast-food facilities
| ||||
|
Automotive dealerships
| ||||
|
Entertainment theaters
| ||||
|
Medium:
|
2.4
|
0.6
|
4/1
| |
|
Community shopping centers
| ||||
|
Cultural, civic, or recreational events
| ||||
|
Office parking
| ||||
|
Medical facility parking
| ||||
|
Airports, commuter lots, etc.
| ||||
|
Residential complex parking
| ||||
|
Low:
|
0.8
|
0.2
|
4/1
| |
|
Neighborhood shopping with greater than 5,000 square feet
| ||||
|
Industrial employee parking
| ||||
|
Educational facility parking
| ||||
|
Recreational facilities
| ||||
|
Church parking
| ||||
|
Wherever there is a requirement to maintain security at any
time in areas where there is a low level of nighttime activity
| ||||
|
Other Outdoor Lighting Levels
| ||
|---|---|---|
|
Building Exteriors
|
Footcandles
| |
|
Entrances
|
5
| |
|
Active (pedestrian and/or conveyance)
| ||
|
Inactive (normally locked, infrequently used)
|
1
| |
|
Building Exteriors
|
Dark Surroundings
|
Bright Surroundings
| |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Loading platforms
|
20
| ||
|
Service stations
| |||
|
Approach
|
1.5
|
3
| |
|
Driveway
|
1.5
|
5
| |
|
Pump Island
|
20
|
30
| |
|
Service areas
|
3
|
7
| |
|
Storage yards
| |||
|
Active (during hours)
|
20
| ||
|
Inactive (after hours)
|
1
| ||
|
Retail outdoor lighting
|
5
|
10
| |
|
Auto sales lots
|
5
|
10
| |
The following uses shall be exempt from the provisions of this
chapter:
A.
Roadway and airport lighting and lighting activated by motion-sensor
devices.
B.
Temporary circus, fair, carnival, religious, historic, or civic use.
C.
Construction or emergency lighting, provided such lighting is temporary
and is discontinued immediately upon completion of the construction
work or abatement of the emergency necessitating said lighting.
D.
Temporary lighting, including holiday lighting for no more than two
months per year.
E.
Lighting associated with agricultural pursuits, including harvest
activities, unless such lighting is permanent and/or creates a safety
hazard.
F.
Lighting that is considered a landscape design element and is integral
to the aesthetic value of the design, as determined by the Planning
Board.
G.
All outdoor light fixtures producing light directly by the combustion
of natural gas or other fossil fuels.
H.
Outdoor light fixtures installed on and in connection with those
facilities and land owned or operated by the federal government, the
State of New York, or the County of Orange, the Town of Warwick, the
Village of Greenwood Lake or any department, division, agency or instrumentality
thereof. Voluntary compliance with the intent of this chapter at those
facilities is encouraged.
I.
Outdoor light fixtures utilized in connection with nighttime recreational
facilities, such as baseball fields or footballs fields, on condition
that same has been or shall be approved by the Village Planning Board.
All outdoor lighting fixtures already installed shall be brought
into compliance with the provisions of this chapter within 90 days
from date of adoption of this chapter. No replacement or installation
of new luminaires shall be permitted unless in conformance with this
section. Nonconforming outdoor lighting that is the subject of subdivision,
special use permit and/or site plan applications, certificates of
occupancy, no-violation letters, or other permit, approval, entitlement,
or authorization from the Village of Greenwood Lake shall be subject
to all of the terms and conditions of this chapter.
A.
The Building Inspector/Enforcement Officer is authorized to make
or cause to be made inspections to determine the condition of the
lighting.
B.
Application for search warrant authorized. The Building Inspector/Code
Enforcement Officer is authorized to make application to any court
of competent jurisdiction for the issuance of a search warrant, to
be executed by a police officer, in order to conduct an inspection
of any premises covered by this chapter where the owner or occupant
refuses or fails to allow an inspection of the lighting where there
is reasonable cause to believe that a violation of this chapter has
occurred. The application for a search warrant shall, in all respects,
comply with applicable laws of the State of New York.
Any person, association, firm or corporation which violates
any provision of this chapter or assists in the violation of any provision
of this chapter shall be guilty of a violation of this chapter only
and shall be punishable by a fine of not more than $250 or by imprisonment
for a period not to exceed 15 days, or both for each day that a violation
exists. Each day that the violation exists shall constitute a separate
violation of this chapter.
