Section 12.11.3

Lighting

• Construction site lighting

  All construction site lighting, with the exception of lighting that is used to illuminate the interiors of buildings under construction, shall use full cut-off or directionally shielded fixtures that are aimed and controlled so the directed light shall be substantially confined to the object intended to be illuminated. Directional control shields shall be used where necessary to limit stray light. Frosted light bulbs shall be used to light the ten foot outermost perimeter area of the interiors of the buildings under construction.

• Directional shielding for object illumination

  Lighting used to illuminate flags, statues, signs or any other objects mounted on a pole, pedestal or platform, spotlighting or floodlighting used for architectural or landscape purposes, shall consist of full cut-off or directionally shielded lighting fixtures that are aimed and controlled so that the directed light shall be substantially confined to the object intended to be illuminated.

• Exemptions

  The following shall be exempt from the provisions of this section: Lighting fixtures and standards required by the Federal Communications Commission, Federal Aviation Administration, Federal and State Occupational Safety and Health Administrations or other federal, state or town agencies, to include street lights within the public right-of-way. Outdoor lighting fixtures required by law enforcement, fire and rescue, the Virginia Department of Transportation or other emergency response agencies to perform emergency or construction repair work, or to perform nighttime road construction on major thoroughfares.

• Full cut-off fixtures required

  Full cut-off lighting fixtures shall be mounted horizontal to the ground and shall be used for all walkway, parking lot, canopy and building/wall mounted lighting and all lighting fixtures located within those portions of open-sided parking structures that are above ground.

• Maximum canopy lighting level20 foot-candles

  Service station and service station/mini-mart canopy lighting shall not exceed a maintained level of 20 foot-candles under the canopy as measured horizontally at grade at the inside of the outside edge of the canopy. All underside canopy lighting shall consist of full cut-off lighting fixtures.

• Maximum outdoor display area lighting20 foot-candles

  Outdoor display area lighting used in conjunction with a vehicle sale, rental and ancillary service establishment shall not exceed a maintained lighting level of 20 foot-candles as measured horizontally at grade. For the purpose of this section, outdoor display areas shall include all display/storage areas for vehicles offered for sale or rent and the associated travel lanes.

• Maximum ground-mounted fixture heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first.4 ft

  Wherever possible, illumination of outdoor seating areas, building entrances and walkways is accomplished by use of ground mounted fixtures not more than four feet in height.

• Maximum light pole heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first. in parking lots25 ft

  Light poles in all parking lots areas shall not exceed a maximum height of 25 feet including the base. Light poles shall not be permitted on the top deck of parking structures.

• Minimum distance from property line10 ft

  All exterior lighting fixtures shall be located a minimum of ten feet from a property line.

• NonconformingNonconformingLawful when built, but not compliant with the rules now in force; usually allowed to continue but not to expand. fixtures

  Outdoor lighting fixtures, legally installed and existing prior to February 14, 2012, that do not conform to the provisions of this section shall be deemed to be a lawful nonconforming use and may remain. A nonconforming lighting fixture that is changed to or replaced by a conforming lighting fixture shall no longer be deemed nonconforming.

• Photometric plan required

  A photometric plan shall be provided that indicates all outdoor lighting fixtures exclusive of street lights will not have a source of illumination that is visible beyond the site or cause illumination of adjacent properties in excess of 0.5 foot-candles, as measured at the site boundary. Where lighting is located along a street with existing street lights and/or along a common property line with another commercial parking lot with pre-existing lighting levels exceeding the 0.5 foot-candle maximum, the 0.5 foot-candle requirement may be waived when it can be demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Zoning Administrator that compliance is not possible due to pre-existing non-conforming overlapping light sources, and the proposed lighting does not intensify the non-conforming condition.

• ProhibitedProhibitedNot allowed in the district at all, short of rezoning or a variance. high-intensity beams

  High intensity light beams in the form of outdoor search lights, lasers or strobe lights are prohibited.

• Wall-mounted light requirements

  Wall mounted lights, other than entry lights of 100 watts or less, shall be fully shielded luminaries, such as shoebox or can fixtures, to direct all light downward and to prevent the light source from being visible from any adjacent residential properties and public street right-of-way. Wall pack lights on buildings may be used at entrances to a building to light unsafe areas. Such lights cannot be used to draw attention to the building or provide general building or site lighting. Wall packs on the exterior of the building shall be fully shielded, full cut-off, to direct light vertically downward at an angle that shall limit output to prevent glare onto adjacent properties and be 100 watts or less. Wall pack lights visible from any location off site are prohibited.