Village Addresses Light Pollution with Code Changes

Several amendments made to village code at the board's May 12 meeting address lighting levels and light pollution, following concerns raised by residents about light trespass from commercial property lighting or common area lighting in subdivisions and residential developments. 

In the former language, the village code required that in all nonresidential districts and for all nonresidential uses in residential districts, anything producing intensive glare "shall be conducted as to not create a public nuisance or hazard along lot lines." 

Also, exposed sources of light should be controlled so that any direct and indirect illumination from any source will not exceed .2 foot-candle at lot lines abutting residential districts or one foot-candle at lot lines abutting non-residential districts. 

The code also address sports field lighting, gas station canopies and the light level at the end of drvieways on non-residential properties. 

The sports field lighting regulations remain unchanged. The light level at end of driveways on non-residental properties has been reduced 60 percent. 

The following regulations have also been added. 

In the new language, a photometric plan is now required for all land development applications where outdoor lighting is required or proposed. Single-family developments where all streets are public rights-of-way are not required to have such a plan. 

The plan must show the location, orientation, manufacturer, glare reduction device, etc. for the planned lighting. 

Any luminaire used for outdoor lighting should have a fully shielded fixture, except for sports field lighting. 

For a property next to a residential property, no direct light source should be visible at the property line at ground level. That doesn't apply to public street lights, common area street lighting, units or buildings within that residential development or sports field lighting. 

All under-canopy lighting must be recessed to reduce glare on surrounding properties. 

Outdoor lighting like underwater lighting used for the illumination of swimming pools and fountains and lighting required by municipal, county, state or federal regulations are exempt from these regulations.