[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the
Town of Ithaca 10-16-2006 by L.L. No. 12-2006. Amendments noted
where applicable.]
This chapter shall be known as the "Outdoor
Lighting Law."
The Town Board of the Town of Ithaca finds the
following:
A.
Good outdoor lighting at night benefits everyone.
It increases safety, enhances the Town's nighttime character, and
helps provide security.
B.
New lighting technologies have produced lights that
are extremely powerful, and these types of lights may be improperly
installed so that they create problems of excessive glare, light trespass,
higher energy use, and can negatively impact animals. Excessive glare
can be annoying and can cause safety problems. Light trespass reduces
everyone's privacy, and sky glow can interfere with observatories.
If these problems are addressed, the resulting reduced energy use
can benefit everyone through reduced pollution and lower energy costs.
C.
There is a need for a lighting law that recognizes
the benefits of outdoor lighting and provides clear guidelines for
its installation and operation so as to help maintain and complement
the Town's character.
D.
Appropriately regulated, and properly installed, outdoor
lighting will contribute to the safety and welfare of the residents
and visitors of the Town.
The purpose of this chapter is to promote the
public safety and welfare by regulating outdoor lighting to reduce
the problems created by improperly designed and installed outdoor
lighting. This chapter is intended to eliminate problems of glare
and minimize light trespass to keep unnecessary direct light from
shining onto abutting properties or streets, to help reduce the energy
costs of outdoor lighting, and to reduce sky glow.
As used in this chapter, the following terms
shall be defined as follows:
Light emitted directly from the lamp, off the reflector or
reflector diffuser, or through the refractor or diffuser lens, of
a luminaire.
Glare resulting in reduced visual performance and visibility.
It is often accompanied by discomfort.
The official charged with the duty to enforce the zoning
and other laws, ordinances, codes, and regulations relating to buildings
and property.
Luminaires not conforming to the provisions of this chapter
that were in place on the effective date of this chapter.
The assembly that houses the lamp or lamps and can include
all or some of the following parts: a housing, a mounting bracket
or pole socket, a lamp holder, a ballast, a reflector or mirror, and/or
a refractor or lens.
Any light fixture or lamp that incorporates a reflector,
a refractor, or a prismatic lens to concentrate the light output into
a directed beam in a particular direction.
A luminaire constructed and installed in such a manner that
all light emitted by it, either directly from the lamp or a diffusing
element, is projected below a horizontal plane through the luminaire's
lowest light-emitting part.
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Light emitted from a luminaire with an intensity great enough
to reduce a viewer's ability to see, and in extreme cases causing
momentary blindness.
Direct light that has been reflected or has scattered off
other surfaces.
The component of a luminaire that produces the actual light
(commonly called a "bulb").
The shining of light produced by a luminaire beyond the boundaries
of the property on which it is located.
The unit used to measure the actual amount of light which
is produced by a lamp. One footcandle is one lumen per square foot.
For the purposes of this chapter, the lumen-output values shall be
the initial lumen output ratings of a lamp. The lumen output of most
lamps is listed on the packaging.
A complete lighting system, including a lamp or lamps and
a fixture.
The nighttime illumination of an outside area or object by
any man-made device located outdoors that produces light by any means.
The overhead glow from light emitted sideways and upwards,
including light reflected upward from the ground or other surfaces.
Sky glow is caused by the reflection and scattering of various forms
of light by dust, water, and other particles suspended in the atmosphere.
The specific illumination of an outside area or object by
any man-made device located outdoors that produces light by any means
for a period of less than seven days, with at least 180 days passing
before being used again.
All new and replacement public and private outdoor lighting installed in the Town of Ithaca after the effective date of this chapter shall be in conformance with the requirements of this chapter. Certain lighting in place on the effective date of this chapter shall also be subject to the requirements of this chapter, as specified in § 173-14. Any inconsistent language in the Town of Ithaca Code is superseded by the requirements of this chapter.
A.
All temporary emergency lighting needed by police
or fire departments or other emergency services, as well as all automobile
luminaires, shall be exempt from the requirements of this chapter.
B.
All hazard-warning luminaires required by federal
regulatory agencies are exempt from the requirements of this chapter,
except that all luminaires used must be as close as possible to the
federally required minimum lumen output requirement for the specific
task.
C.
Fossil fuel light. All outdoor light fixtures producing
light directly by combustion of fossil fuels (such as kerosene lanterns
and gas lamps) or equivalent are exempt from the requirements of this
chapter.
D.
Holiday decorations. Lights used for holiday decorations
are exempt from the requirements of this chapter.
E.
Fountain lights. All lights located within a fountain
are exempt from the requirements from this chapter.
A.
Top-mounted fixtures required. Lighting fixtures used to illuminate an outdoor sign shall be mounted on the top of the sign structure. All such fixtures shall comply with the shielding requirements of § 173-6. Bottom-mounted outdoor sign lighting shall not be used.
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B.
Outdoor signs of the type constructed of translucent
materials and wholly illuminated from within do not require shielding.
Dark backgrounds with light lettering or symbols are preferred, to
minimize detrimental effects.
C.
Existing nonconforming outdoor signs shall be brought
into conformance with the provisions of this chapter within one year
from its effective date.
Any light source permitted by this chapter may
be used for lighting of outdoor recreational facilities (public or
private), such as, but not limited to, football fields, soccer fields,
baseball fields, softball fields, tennis courts, or show areas, provided
all of the following conditions are met:
A.
All fixtures used for event lighting shall be fully shielded as defined in § 173-4 of this chapter.
B.
All events shall be scheduled so as to complete all
activity before or as near to 10:30 p.m. as practical, but under no
circumstances shall any illumination of the playing field, court,
or track be permitted after 11:00 p.m. except to conclude a scheduled
event that was in progress before 11:00 p.m.
A.
Light fixtures mounted under roof overhangs and canopies
shall be recessed so that the lens cover is recessed or flush with
the bottom surface (soffit) of the canopy and/or shielded by the fixture
or the edge of the canopy so that light is restrained to no more than
85º from vertical.
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Source: International Dark-Sky Association
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B.
Lights shall not be mounted on the top or sides (fascias)
of the canopy, and the sides of the canopy shall not be illuminated.
C.
Existing nonconforming lighting under or on roof overhangs
and canopies shall be brought into conformance with the provisions
of this chapter within one year from its effective date.
Spotlights and floodlights shall be aimed 45º
or more below the horizontal.
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ACCEPTABLE
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UNACCEPTABLE
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UNACCEPTABLE
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A.
Laser source light. The use of laser source light or any similar high-intensity light for outdoor advertising or entertainment, when projected above the horizontal, is prohibited. The temporary use of laser source lights that project light into the sky may be allowed subject to the restrictions of temporary outdoor lighting contained in § 173-13.
B.
Searchlights and strobe lights. The operation of searchlights
or strobe lights is prohibited.
C.
Mercury vapor fixtures and lamps. The installation
of any mercury vapor fixture or lamp for use as outdoor lighting is
prohibited.
Nonconforming temporary outdoor lighting may
be permitted by the Enforcement Official after considering: (1) the
public and/or private benefits that will result from the temporary
lighting; (2) any annoyance or safety problems that may result from
the use of the temporary lighting; and (3) the duration of the temporary
nonconforming lighting. The applicant shall submit a detailed description
of the proposed temporary nonconforming lighting to the Enforcement
Official, who shall consider the request. The Enforcement Official
shall render the decision on the temporary lighting request within
two weeks.
All luminaires lawfully in place on the effective
date of this chapter that do not meet the requirements of this chapter
are exempt from this chapter, except that:
A.
Any luminaire that replaces an existing nonconforming
luminaire, or any existing nonconforming luminaire that is moved,
must meet the requirements of this chapter;
B.
Any existing nonconforming luminaire that creates
glare or light trespass shall be either shielded or redirected within
30 days of notification to the owner or occupant by the Town, so that
the direct light is contained on the property;
C.
Existing nonconforming luminaires that direct light
toward streets or parking lots and cause disability glare to motorists,
pedestrians, or cyclists shall be either shielded or redirected within
30 days of notification to the owner or occupant by the Town, so that
the luminaires do not cause a potential hazard to motorists, pedestrians,
or cyclists;
A.
Submission contents. The applicant for any permit
or approval required by any provision of the Town of Ithaca Code in
connection with proposed work involving outdoor lighting fixtures
shall submit (as part of the application for permit or approval) evidence
that the proposed work will comply with the requirements of this chapter.
The submission shall contain but shall not necessarily be limited
to the following:
(1)
Plans indicating the location on the premises, and
the type of illuminating devices, fixtures, lamps, supports, reflectors,
and other devices;
(2)
Description of the illuminating devices, fixtures,
lamps, supports, reflectors and other devices, and their lumen output.
The description may include, but is not limited to, catalog cuts by
manufacturers and drawings (including sections where required);
(3)
Photometric data, such as that furnished by manufacturers,
or similar data showing the angle of cut off or light emissions, and
the lumen output.
B.
Additional submission. The above-required plans, descriptions
and data shall be sufficiently complete to enable the plans examiner
or board to readily determine whether compliance with the requirements
of this chapter will be secured. If such plans, descriptions and data
cannot enable this determination, by reason of the nature or configuration
of the devices, fixtures, or lamps proposed, the applicant shall submit
additional evidence of compliance to enable such determination, such
as certified test reports by a recognized testing laboratory.
C.
Subdivision plat certification. If any subdivision
proposes to have installed street or other common or public area outdoor
lighting, the final plat shall contain a statement certifying that
the applicable provisions of this chapter will be adhered to.
D.
Lamp or fixture substitution or addition. Should any
outdoor light fixture, or the type of light source therein, be changed
or added after the permit or approval has been issued, a change request
must be submitted to the Enforcement Official for approval, together
with adequate information to assure compliance with this chapter.
Approval must be received prior to substitution or addition.
A.
The Town of Ithaca application forms for site plan
approval, subdivision approval, special approval, and building permits
shall include a statement asking whether the planned project will
include any outdoor lighting.
B.
Within 30 days of the effective date of this chapter,
the Town Clerk shall send a copy of the Outdoor Lighting Law with
a cover letter to all local electricians, local electric utility,
local architectural firms, and local engineering firms (including
at least those in the Towns of Ithaca, Danby, Dryden, Enfield, Lansing,
Newfield, and Ulysses, and the City of Ithaca as listed in the Yellow
Pages).
A.
In the event of a breach of any of the provisions
of this chapter, the Enforcement Official shall notify the owner of
the premises, in writing, to remove, repair, or bring the luminaire
into conformance within 30 days of the date of such notice.
B.
Upon failure to comply with any notice within the
prescribed time, the Enforcement Official may remove or cause removal,
repair, or conformance of the luminaire, and shall assess all costs
and expenses incurred against the owner of the premises on which the
luminaire is located.
C.
All costs and expenses incurred by the Town of Ithaca
in causing the removal, repair or conformance of any luminaire, as
specified in this section, shall be collected from the owner of the
premises on which such luminaire is located. Payment shall be made
in not more than five days after the receipt of a written demand,
or in not more than 30 days after the final decision on any judicial
contest the owner may pursue. If the owner fails to make a timely
payment, then such unpaid costs, expenses and interest at the per-annum
rate of 9% incurred from the date of removal, repair or Town action
to bring the luminaire into conformance shall constitute a lien upon
the premises on which the luminaire is located. A legal action or
proceeding may be brought to collect such costs, expenses, interest,
and recoverable attorney's fees, or to foreclose such lien. As an
alternative to the maintenance of any such action, the Town may file
a certificate with the Tompkins County Department of Assessment stating
the costs and expenses incurred and interest accruing as aforesaid,
together with a statement identifying the property and owner. The
Tompkins County Department of Assessment shall, in the preparation
of the next assessment roll, assess such unpaid costs, expenses and
interest upon such property. Such amount shall be included as a special
ad valorem levy (administered as a move tax) against such property,
shall constitute a lien, and shall be collected and enforced in the
same manner, by the same proceedings, at the same time, and under
the same penalties as are provided by law for collection and enforcement
of real property taxes in the Town of Ithaca. The assessment of such
costs, expenses and interest shall be effective even if the property
would otherwise be exempt from real estate taxation.
D.
Any person, firm, corporation, or entity, whether
as owner, lessee, agent, or employee, who violates any of the provisions
of this chapter, or who fails to comply with any order or regulation
made thereunder, or who installs, moves, or alters any light in violation
of any detailed statement or plans submitted by him and approved under
the provisions of this chapter or other Town of Ithaca Code provisions,
shall be guilty of a violation as the same is defined in the Penal
Law and shall be fined not more than $100 for each violation. Each
day that such violation is permitted to exist shall constitute a separate
violation. Any police officer or peace officer or any person who may
be lawfully designated by the Town Board shall have the authority
to issue appearance tickets in connection with such violations.
E.
In addition, any person, firm, corporation, or entity,
whether as owner, lessee, agent, or employee, who violates any of
the provisions of this chapter, or who fails to comply with any order
or regulation made thereunder, or who installs, moves, or alters any
light in violation of any detailed statement or plans submitted by
him and approved under the provisions of this chapter or other Town
of Ithaca Code provisions, shall be liable for a civil penalty of
$100 for a first violation and $200 for a second or subsequent violation
that was committed within a period of five years from the commission
of the prior violation. Each day that such violation is permitted
to exist shall constitute a separate violation. The Attorney for the
Town or his or her designee may commence an action or special proceeding
against the violator in a court of competent jurisdiction to collect
these penalties, together with costs, disbursements and recoverable
attorneys' fees, and/or to compel compliance or restrain by injunction
any such violation.
A.
The Zoning Board of Appeals, established pursuant to Chapter 270, Zoning, of the Town of Ithaca Code, shall hear and decide the following matters:
B.
The Zoning Board of Appeals may grant variances from
the application of this chapter upon the following conditions:
(1)
Any variance shall be prospective in its application
and shall not relieve any person from the penalties and fines for
violating this chapter by conditions that existed prior to the granting
of the variance.
(2)
An application for a variance shall be submitted to
the Town in a form substantially indicating the name and owner of
the real property, the nature of the condition for which a variance
is sought, and the reasons for which a variance is sought.
(4)
Where the applicant is also seeking site plan review, the variance application shall be referred to the Planning Board, established pursuant to Chapter 270, Zoning, of the Town of Ithaca Code, for its review and recommendation to the Zoning Board of Appeals.
(5)
The Zoning Board of Appeals shall hold a public hearing on the application and shall publish notice of said public hearing at least five days prior to its date. At the option of the Zoning Board of Appeals, notice of said application shall also be given to all landowners owning property adjoining the property for which a variance is sought. At the option of the Zoning Board of Appeals, a notice that a variance is sought shall also be posted on the property in accordance with the posting provisions of Chapter 270, Zoning, of the Town of Ithaca Code.
(6)
The Zoning Board of Appeals may grant a variance if
it determines that the purposes of this chapter will be met if the
variance is granted, and that the benefit to the applicant if the
variance is granted outweighs the detriment to the health, safety
and welfare of the neighborhood or community by such grant. In making
such determination the Board shall consider, among other matters:
(a)
Whether an undesirable change will be produced
in the character of the neighborhood or a detriment to nearby properties
will be created by the granting of the variance;
(b)
Whether the benefit sought by the applicant
can be achieved by some method, feasible for the applicant to pursue,
other than a variance;
(c)
Whether the requested variance is substantial;
(d)
Whether the proposed variance will have an adverse
effect or impact on the physical or environmental conditions in the
neighborhood or district; and
(e)
Whether the alleged difficulty was self-created,
which consideration shall be relevant to the decision of the Board
of Appeals but shall not necessarily preclude the granting of the
variance.
(7)
The Zoning Board of Appeals, if it chooses to grant
the variance, shall grant the minimum variance that it shall deem
necessary and adequate and at the same time preserve and protect the
character of the neighborhood and the health, safety, and welfare
of the community.
(8)
The Zoning Board of Appeals shall, in the granting
of such variance, have the authority to impose such reasonable conditions
and restrictions as are directly related to and incidental to the
proposed use of the property and/or the period of time such variance
shall be in effect. Such conditions shall be consistent with the spirit
and intent of this chapter, and shall be imposed for the purpose of
minimizing any adverse impact such variance may have on the neighborhood
or community.
C.
The variances and the procedure for obtaining same shall, except where explicitly otherwise required by this chapter, be in accordance with the provisions of the Town Law, particularly § 267 et seq., and the provisions of the Town of Ithaca Code, Chapter 270, Zoning, relating to the consideration of area variances.
D.
Any person aggrieved by a decision of the Zoning Board
of Appeals may have the decision reviewed by the Supreme Court of
the State of New York in the manner provided by law.
Where any provision of federal, state, county,
or Town statutes, codes, or laws conflicts with any provision of this
chapter, the most restrictive provision shall govern except where
preempted by state or federal law.
