Township of Riverside, NJ Article XIX Lighting

§ 255-154 Streetlighting and site lighting.

A. Purpose. The intent of this section is to provide for a street and site lighting plan that adheres to recommended lighting design practices by achieving adequate illumination for the specific land use while not causing adverse site or off-site conditions or excessive operating costs.

B. Design criteria. The intent of these design criteria is to provide guidelines and not rigid standards that may be used in the design of the lighting systems subject to site-specific adjustments. The design objectives of the street/site lighting plan are as follows:

(1) To provide adequate lighting to ensure the safe movement of vehicles while avoiding glare or diversionary conditions;

(2) To provide adequate lighting to ensure public safety and security;

(3) To enhance the visual appearance of the buildings and site;

(4) To protect neighboring properties from nuisance glare and to protect the night sky from unnecessary light pollution; and

(5) To promotes energy conservation by the use of efficient lighting fixtures and design.

C. Illumination levels. The street/site lighting design shall have intensities and uniformity ratios that are in accordance with the current recommended practices of the illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA). Illumination levels are maintained, horizontal footcandles at ground level. The uniformity ratio establishes the relationship between average and minimum illumination values. The recommended intensities for typical applications are as follows:

(1) Light activity off-street parking. The minimum level of illumination in any residential or light activity off-street parking lot shall be 0.4 footcandles; the uniformity ratio shall be 4:1; and the maximum level of illumination shall be 2.0 footcandles.

(2) High activity off-street parking. The minimum level of illumination in any high activity commercial off-street parking lot shall be 0.6 footcandles; the uniformity ratio shall be 4:1; and the maximum level of illumination shall be 3.0 footcandles.

(3) Site/roadway lighting. The minimum level of illumination on any public street or development site shall be 0.2 footcandles, the average illumination shall not be less than 0.5 footcandles and the uniformity ratio shall be 6:1.

(4) Street intersections. The minimum level of illumination at all street or entrance/exit drive intersections shall be 1.0 footcandles.

(5) Walkways. The minimum level of illumination along any walkway that is not part of a parking lot shall be 0.4 footcandles; the uniformity ratio shall be 4:1; and the maximum level of illumination shall be 2.0 footcandles.

(6) Property line limit. The maximum level of illumination at any property line shall not exceed 1.0 footcandles.

(7) Maximum limit. The maximum level of illumination on any residential or commercial site for specific activities where visual tasks are performed (i.e., gas station canopy) or where security is a concern (building entrance) shall not exceed 10.0 footcandles.

(8) Uniformity. The recommended illumination levels shall be attained by use of the minimum number of poles that will provide relatively uniform illumination. High uniformity ratios which deter or prevent visual adaption shall be avoided.

D. Streetlighting standards.

(1) Streetlight location. Streetlight standards shall be installed at all street intersections and at other locations deemed necessary by the Planning Board to achieve the illumination standards. Light standards shall be located no more than 350 feet apart along public streets.

(2) Site lighting. Site lighting should be located along streets, parking areas, at intersections and where various types of circulation systems converge or split.

(3) Street/site lighting standard type. Streetlight standards shall be of a type approved by the Planning Board for that particular use. The style of the lights and light standards shall be consistent with the architectural style of the principal building and area development. Whenever possible, traditional streetlights are to be used in residential districts instead of utility pole mounted cobra head streetlights.

(4) Mounting height. The maximum mounting height of pole-mounted luminaries shall be 25 feet except in major shopping centers or at major freeway interchanges.

(5) Site light standards. Freestanding light standards are to be located and protected to avoid damage from vehicles.

(6) Walkways. Sidewalks, pathways, and trails should be illuminated with low or mushroom-type standards.

(7) Underground wiring. Whenever this chapter requires the installation of electric utility installations underground, the applicant shall provide for the installation of underground service for streetlighting.

E. Luminaries.

(1) Sharp cutoff-type luminaries are recommended for the lighting of off-street parking areas. The luminaries shall be of the type that can be provided with sharp cutoff deflectors or refractors to shield light from the luminaire at angles less than the set cutoff degree angle above nadir (from the vertical) when necessary. The shielding angle shall be selected to minimize discomforting glare to an observer's eyes from the light source at an angle below the set cutoff. Shielding shall also be employed to prevent spillover of undesirable light to adjoining property.

(2) The use of high-pressure sodium luminaires is encouraged. The use of low-pressure sodium luminaires are discouraged except for isolated industrial areas remote from residential and commercial zones where they will not be visible from the traveled way.

(3) General illumination of the exterior of buildings, including the roof, is discouraged unless the lighting is properly designed in accordance with IESNA standards.

(4) Spotlight-type fixtures attached to buildings are to be avoided.

(5) Objectionable spill, to the exterior, of bright and glaring interior building light shall be avoided by the use of low-brightness lenses on interior lighting.

F. Light pollution or light intrusion. Light pollution or intrusion shall be minimized by conformance to the following design standards:

(1) Directional lights shall be arranged so as to minimize glare and reflection on adjacent properties.

(2) The maximum cutoff angle shall be used to shield light source glare and unwanted light from adjacent properties and motorists approaching on bounding roads and highways.

(3) Adequate shielding shall be employed to protect properties, streets and highways from the glare of such illumination, including luminaires for illuminating entrances and driveways for parking areas.

(4) Conflicts with lighting of adjacent (parking areas) properties shall be avoided. For example, if one or more adjacent areas with established lighting systems are using mercury-vapor lamps, the submitted area shall conform to the same lamp type, but not necessarily the same type luminaire. However, other HID (high intensity discharge) lamps may be considered when there's ample reason for employing such lamps and ample proof that a suitable method can be employed to reduce color conflict.

(5) Security lighting. All parking areas and appurtenant passageways and driveways shall be illuminated for safety and security reasons from sunset to sunrise.

G. Lighting details. The following information shall be submitted for review and approval of all street/site lighting plans:

(1) The lighting plan shall show existing and proposed streetlights within 100 feet of the property area to be lighted; location of all poles and luminaries; illumination levels using photometric curve plotting.

(2) When warranted by site conditions, the Planning Board Engineer shall require a point-by-point lighting plan showing footcandles of illumination at each point including all canopy, site, street, and building lights. The point-by-point plan shall indicate the minimum, average, and maximum footcandles maintained with a light loss factor (LLF) of 0.75; the uniformity ratio; and the illuminance levels for the proposed activity recommended by the illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA).

(3) Details of the luminaries shall be provided indicating the type and wattage of the lamp, the mounting height, and manufacturer's data.

(4) Details of the light standards and manufacturer's data.

(5) Pole base and foundation design and details. Anchor bolts shall be in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations.

(6) Photometric data and iso footcandle curves of the luminaire and lamp proposed. Photometric data shall be from an independent testing laboratory. Photometric curves shall be drawn to the same scale as the site plan scale and shall show maintained footcandle levels of illumination. The luminaire data shall include data on light source corrections; lamp life lumen depreciation factor; coefficient of utilization; luminaires dirt depreciation factors; maintenance factor correction.