This article is intended to permit adequate lighting and promote
public safety by encouraging the use of outdoor artificial illuminating
devices which do not have a detrimental effect on astronomical observations
resulting from the emission of undesirable light rays into the night
sky. All outdoor lighting installations shall conform to the provisions
of this article and all other related codes of the City of Socorro,
specifically the Uniform Building Code (UBC), as amended, and shall
require permits and inspection.
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
Any private individual, tenant, lessee, owner, or any commercial
entity, including, but not limited to: companies, partnerships, joint
ventures or corporations.
The initial installation of an outdoor light fixture, as
defined herein, following the effective date of this article, but
shall not apply to those outdoor light fixtures installed prior to
this date. Any installation of outdoor lighting fixtures shall be
subject to an electrical permit and/or a building permit and conform
to the Uniform Building Code and/or the National Electric Code.
Outdoor artificial illuminating devices, outdoor fixtures,
lamps and other devices, permanent or portable, used for illumination
or advertisement. Such devices shall include, but are not limited
to, search, spot, or flood lights for:
A.
Shielding. All exterior illuminating devices, except those exempt from this article, and those regulated by § 250-15.6, Prohibitions, shall be fully or partially shielded ad required in Table A below.
(1)
"Fully shielded" shall mean that those fixtures shall be shielded
in such a manner that light rays emitted by the fixture, either directly
from the lamp or indirectly from the fixture, are projected below
a horizontal plane running through the lowest point on the fixture
where light is emitted.
(2)
"Partially shielded" shall mean that those fixtures shall be
mounted in such a manner that the uppermost edge of the shield is
below the plane center line of the light source (lamp), minimizing
light above the horizontal.
B.
Low-pressure sodium. Low-pressure sodium lamps with shielding are
strongly recommended for general use within the City of Socorro.
|
Table A
Requirements for Shielding and Filtering
| |||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Fixture Lamp Type
|
Shielded
|
Filtered4
| |
|
Low-pressure sodium1
|
Partially
|
None
| |
|
High-pressure sodium
|
Fully
|
None
| |
|
Metal halide6
|
Fully
|
Yes
| |
|
Fluorescent
|
Fully5
|
Yes2
| |
|
Quartz3
|
Fully
|
None
| |
|
Incandescent (greater than 150 watts)
|
Fully
|
None
| |
|
Mercury vapor
|
Fully
|
Yes
| |
|
Fossil fuel
|
None
|
None
| |
|
Glass tubes filled with neon, argon, krypton
|
None
|
None
| |
|
Other sources
|
As approved by planning staff
| ||
|
NOTES:
| ||
|---|---|---|
|
1
|
The preferred light source to minimize undesirable light into
the night sky affecting astronomical observations.
| |
|
2
|
Warm white and natural lamps are preferred to minimize adverse
effects.
| |
|
3
|
For the purposes of this article, quartz lamps shall not be
considered an incandescent light source.
| |
|
4
|
Most glass, acrylic, or translucent enclosures satisfy these
filter requirements.
| |
|
5
|
Outdoor advertising signs of the type constructed of translucent
materials and wholly illuminated from within; do not require shielding.
| |
|
6
|
Metal halide display lighting shall not be used for security
lighting after 11:00 p.m. (or after closing hours if before 11:00
p.m.) unless fully shielded; metal halide lamps shall be in enclosed
luminaries.
| |
A.
The applicant for a building permit involving outdoor artificial
illuminating devices, outdoor fixtures, lamps and other devices shall
submit (as part of the application for the permit) evidence of compliance
with this article. The submission may contain but not be limited to
the following:
B.
The above indicated plans and description shall be complete enough
to indicate to the plan examiner compliance with the requirements
of this article.
C.
If devices, fixtures or lamps are submitted which are, by their nature
or configuration, difficult to determine whether compliance exists,
the applicant shall submit evidence of compliance by certified test
reports as performed by a recognized testing lab.
D.
Should outside light fixtures or lamps be substituted after the permit
has been issued, a change must be submitted to the local jurisdiction
for approval, with adequate information to assure compliance with
this article.
A.
Searchlights. The operation of searchlights for advertising purposes
within the City of Socorro is prohibited between 11:00 p.m. and 6:00
a.m. the following morning.
B.
Recreational facility. No outdoor recreational facility (public or
private) shall be illuminated by nonconforming means after 11:00 p.m.
unless a specific recreational or sporting event or any other activity
conducted at a ballpark, outdoor amphitheater, arena, or similar facility
was in progress prior to 11:00 p.m.
C.
Outdoor building or landscaping illumination. The unshielded outdoor
illumination of any building, landscaping, signage or other purpose
is prohibited except with incandescent fixtures less than 150 watts.
A.
Any individual, as defined herein, may submit a written request to
the Zoning Administrator/Code Enforcement Officer, on a form prepared
by the Planning Department, for a temporary exemption to the requirements
of this chapter.
B.
Such exemption shall contain at least the following listed information:
(1)
Specific exemption requested.
(2)
Type and use of exterior light involved.
(3)
Duration of time for requested exemption.
(4)
Type of lamp and calculated lumens.
(5)
Total wattage of lamp or lamps.
(6)
Proposed location of exterior light.
(7)
Previous temporary exemptions, if any.
(8)
Physical size of exterior light and type of shielding provided.
C.
In addition to the above data, the Zoning Administrator/Code Enforcement
Officer may request any additional information which would enable
the City Council to make a reasonable evaluation of the request for
temporary exemption.
A.
Nonconformance. All outdoor light fixtures existing and fully installed
prior to the effective date of this article may remain nonconforming
indefinitely.
B.
Fossil fuel light, produced directly or indirectly by the combustion
of natural gas or other utility-type fossil fuels.
C.
Federal and state facilities. Those facilities and lands owned, operated
and protected by the United State federal government or the State
of New Mexico are exempted by law from all requirements of this article.
Voluntary compliance with the intent of this article at those facilities
is encouraged.
Where any provision of any of the New Mexico State Statutes,
or any federal law, or any companion ordinance within the City of
Socorro comparatively conflicts with the requirements of this article,
the most restrictive shall govern.
