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Outdoor Lighting Ordinance

Metropolitan Mayors CaucusMarch 27, 2008

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Jim DaleyMayor – Village of Homer Glen

Margaret SaboTrustee – Village of Homer Glen

Russell KnaackTrustee – Village of Homer Glen

Metropolitan Mayors CaucusMarch 27, 2008

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Homer Glen Outdoor Lighting Ordinance

Contributors & Reviewers

Homer Glen Environment Committee Homer Glen Village Staff Phil Pavlacka, Maura Rigoni - Robinson Engineering Homer Township Chamber of Commerce Chris Luginbuhl – Astronomer, U.S. Naval Observatory Dave Toeppen – International Dark-Sky Association Joseph Donaldson – Mayor of Flagstaff, AZ Susan Harder – Dark Sky Society, NY Francis Parnell – International Dark-Sky Association

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Village of Homer GlenBackground

“The Village of Homer Glen is committed to preserving, protecting, and enhancing our community’s quality of life through responsible residential and economic development while utilizing sound fiscal management.  We will strive to maintain open space preserve our unique rural character, and safeguard our natural resources.  The Village encourages community involvement in order to maintain and cultivate a balance of family, agriculture, business, environment, and cultural diversity for present and future generations.”

Mission Statement

Village Motto: Community & Nature…In Harmony

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Outdoor Lighting OrdinanceTimeline

1973: Flagstaff, AZ creates 1st lighting ordinance2001: Trustee Laurel Ward suggests lighting ordinance for newly incorporated Homer Glen2002: Homer Glen Lighting Subcommittee Created,

Debra Norvil appoint as Chair2002-2006: Worked w/ Flagstaff, AZ & Int. Dark Sky

Association researching lighting ordinances2006 Draft ordinance presented to Village Board2006: Homer Glen Zoning Ordinance updated with

lighting section2007: Trustee Russell Knaack begins working with

Environment Committee on lighting ordinance2007: Homer Glen Outdoor Lighting Ordinance approved on December 18, 2007

Other States:

Maine, Arizona, Texas, New Mexico, California, Colorado, Connecticut with other states (eg, Massachusetts) looking at similar legislation.

Efforts started by cities like Flagstaff AZ

DOT top 5: http://data.nextrionet.com/site/idsa/State%20DOT%20Top%205.pdf

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WHY an Outdoor Lighting Ordinance?

Objectives: Minimize Light Pollution Conserve Energy Protect Sensitive Environmental Areas Promote Public Safety Prevent Nuisances to Residents Beautify Commercial Areas Set Clear Standards for Development

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Objective: Minimize Light Pollution

A Case Study – Toronto Blackout 2003August 20, 2003August 21, 2003

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Artificial light disturbs the natural habitat of living organisms:AnimalsInsectsPlants

Many animals and Insects rely on darkness for food or protection

Mating & migratory habits affected Artificial light can delay dormancy

in trees and plant lifeSnowy Egret

Great Blue Heron

Objective:Protect Sensitive Environmental

Areas

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Poor lighting illuminates trees, clouds, & outer spaceProducing light requires energyWasted light is wasted moneyResidents ultimately pay for this waste

TAXES (e.g., street light bills)COST OF GOODS (e.g., business overhead)

Objective:Conserve Energy

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Distracting lights divide a driver’s attention Glare reduces the ability to see signs, people,

and other safety cues The human eye requires time to adapt from

light to dark conditions

More Light ≠ More Safety

Objective:Promote Public Safety

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Neighbor-to-NeighborBusiness-to-NeighborStreetlight-to-Neighbor

Light Trespass Produces Unhappy Residents

“Light Trespass”

Objective:Prevent Nuisances to Residents

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Poor lighting focuses attention bright lights, not businesses

Good lighting enhances buildings & architecture

Objective:Beautify Commercial Areas

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Establishing ground rules prevents “Light Wars” as businesses compete for attention

Explicit requirements eliminate guesswork and interpretation in planning and approval stages

Quantifiable standards enable enforcement

Objective:Set Clear Standards for

Development

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Outdoor Lighting:Light generated from an indoor or outdoor source that provides illumination to a surface, building, sign, structure, device, or other outdoor feature which is visible to an observer located outdoors.

Landscape Lighting Parking Lot Lighting Externally Illuminated Signs Architectural Lighting

Store Window Displays Internally Illuminated Signs Exempt Lighting

Holiday Lighting Emergency Lighting Special Events/Construction

Scope:What is Outdoor Lighting

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Scope:Who is Affected?

“Residential Lighting Zones”Single-Family ResidenceTwo-Family Residence

“Commercial Lighting Zones”BusinessesChurchesMulti-Family HousingParks & Village FacilitiesOther Public Entities

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The Homer Glen Outdoor Lighting Ordinance in Two

Sentences…

1. Don’t use any more light than you really need.

2. Shine the light where you really need it.

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Outdoor Lighting Ordinance Details

Conformance Requirements Illumination Standards Luminaire Standards Prohibited Outdoor Lighting Exempt Outdoor Lighting Procedural Requirements

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Luminaire Standards:Full-Cutoff Requirement

“Commercial Lighting Zones” & Street LightingAll luminaires must be IESNA “Full-Cutoff”

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Luminaire Standards:Full-Cutoff Requirement

IESNA Full-Cutoff

Non Full-Cutoff

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Luminaire Standards:Installed Height

Lighting Zone Maximum Height

Residential 20 ft

Commercial 25 ft

• Calgary: In 2002-5, Calgary retrofitted about 37,500 residential streetlights, switching to lower-wattage, flat lens fixtures from dropped lens fixtures.

• Annual cost savings just from reduced energy use are about $1.7 million. The city expects the expense of the new lights to be paid off by 2011-12.

• Savings of $45.30 per light per year

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Maui: The island is retrofitting 4,000 streetlights with full-cutoff luminaires. Annual cost savings are $105,850 - $211,700; time to recover the cost of the retrofits is estimated at 2.8 – 5.7 years. http://dynamics.org/~altenber/PROJECTS/STARRY_NIGHTS/LeeRetrofitReport.html

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Ann Arbor: Ann Arbor retrofitted its old downtown pedestrian street lights. The city expects the initial investment to be paid back in 3.8 years. The new LED lights typically burn five times longer than the lights they replace and use less than half the energy. Annual cost savings are about $100,000. http://www.cree.com/press/press_detail.asp?i=1192565115479

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Full cutoff lights for Stadiums http://www.landscapeonline.com/research/article/10521

and

VS

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For more on full cutoff stadium lights:

http://www.recmanagement.com/features.php?fid=200310fe03&ch=2

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Over 50 companies listed as making approved fixtures at:http://www.nextrionet.com/mc/page.do?sitePageId=56423&orgId=idsaEg: http://www.nextrionet.com/mc/page.do?sitePageId=58745