HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-01-26 Compliance Request - Park Lot Lighting City of Oak Park Heights
14168 Oak Park Blvd. N. — P.O. Box 2007
Oak Park Heights, MN 55082 1
Phone: 651.439.4439 Fax: 651.439.0574
January 26, 2012
Sky Ventures LLC #13822
Pizza Hut
P.O. Box 638
Nixa, MO 65714 -0638
Re: Parking Lot Lighting — Pizza Hut @ 14563 60 St. N., Oak Park Heights, MN
Dear Sky Ventures:
The City was recently contacted regarding concern as to the amount of Tight coming from the •
restaurant establishments along 60 St. into the adjoining residential neighborhood to the
west.
In response to this concern, the City investigated and found that several of the businesses
along 60 St., including Pizza Hut at 14563 60 St. N., do have parking lot lights that are quite
bright and that do not have their light fixture angled so that the source of light shines directly
downward to the parking area.
There are two poles with two light fixtures each to the east of the restaurant parking area,
which have the fixtures angled such that the light shines upward and outward.
This letter requests that you have the parking lot Tight fixtures adjusted so that the light
source is deflected away from the adjoining residential zone to the west and away from
public streets. Please adjust the fixtures as prescribed in enclosed ordinance 401.15.B.7.c.
prior to Tuesday, February 28, 2012.
Your prompt attention is appreciated. Kindly contact me with any questions you may have
regarding this request.
erely,
1
_..Asti' - %''Itman •
Pla g & Code Enforcement
Enclosure
p: Eric Johnson, City Administrator
Phone: 651.439.4439, Extension 1105
Email: jhultman @cityofoakparkheights.com
401.15.B. General Building and Performance Requirements.
¥ 17. Outdoor Lighting.
a. Purpose. It is the purpose of this Ordinance section to encourage the use
of lighting systems that will reduce light pollution and promote energy
conservation while increasing night time safety, utility, security and
productivity.
b. Exemptions. The provisions of this section shall not apply to the following:
1) This section does not prohibit the use of temporary outdoor lighting
used during customary holiday seasons.
2) This section does not prohibit the use of temporary outdoor lighting
used for civic celebrations and promotions.
3) Lighting required by a government agency for the safe operation of
airplanes, or security lighting required. on government buildings or
structures.
4) Emergency lighting by police, fire and rescue authorities.
c. Non- Conforming Uses.
1) All outdoor lighting fixtures existing and legally installed prior to the
effective date of this Ordinance (15 October 1997) are exempt from
regulations of this section but shall comply with the previous
Ordinance requirements for glare as follows:
a) Any lighting used to illuminate an off - street parking area, sign or
other structure, shall be arranged as to deflect light away from
any adjoining residential zone or from the public streets. Direct
or sky - reflected glare, where from flood lights or from high
temperature processes such as combustion or welding shall not
be directed into any adjoining property. The source of lights
shall be hooded or controlled in some manner so as not to light
adjacent property. Bare incandescent light bulbs shall not be
permitted in view of adjacent property or public right -of -way.
Any light or combination of lights which cast light on a public
street shall not exceed one (1) foot candle (meter reading) as
measured from the center line of said street. Any Tight or
combination of lights which cast light on residential property
shall not exceed four - tenths (.4) foot candles (meter reading) as
measured from said property.
2) New Fixtures. Whenever a Tight fixture that was existing on the
effective date of this Ordinance (15 October 1997) is replaced by a
new outdoor light fixture, the provisions of this section shall be
complied with.
d. Intensity. No light source or combination thereof which cast light on a
public street shall exceed one (1) foot candle meter reading as measured
from the centerline of said street nor shall any light source or combination
thereof which cast light on adjacent property exceed four - tenths (0.4) foot
candles as measured at the property line, per the method outlined in
Section 401.15.B.7.e.
e. Method of Measuring Light Intensity. The foot candle level of a light
source shall be taken after dark with the light meter held six (6) inches
above the ground with the meter facing the light source. A reading shall
be taken with the light source on, then with the light source off. The
difference between the two readings will be identified as the light intensity.
f. Performance Standards.
1) Residential /Open Space District Standards. In all residential /open
space districts, any lighting used to illuminate an off - street parking
area, structure, or area shall be arranged as to deflect light away
from any adjoining residential property or from any public right -of-
way in accordance with the following provisions:
a) The Tight source shall be hooded or controlled so as not to
light adjacent property in excess of the maximum intensity
defined in Section 401.15.B.7.d.
b) Bare Tight bulbs shall not be permitted in view of adjacent
property or public right -of -way, unless part of a permanent
fixture.
11 2) Public /Institutional, Commercial and Industrial Districts. Any
lighting used to illuminate an off - street parking area, structure, or
area shall be arranged so as to deflect light away from any
adjoining property or from any public right -of -way in accordance
with the following provisions:
a) Shielding. The luminaire shall contain a cutoff which directs
and cuts off the light at an angle of ninety (90) degrees or
less.
b) Intensity. Light sources shall not be permitted so as to light
adjacent property in excess of the maximum intensity defined in
Section 401.15.B.7.d.
c) Exceptions. Architectural /historical Tight fixtures that feature
globes that are not shielded, or lighting of entire facades or
architectural features of a building shall be approved by the
City Council. In no case shall the light affect adjacent
property in excess of the maximum intensity defined in
Section 401.15.B.7.d.
d) Height. The maximum height above the ground grade
permitted for light sources mounted on a pole is twenty -five
(25) feet. A light source mounted on a building shall not
exceed the height of the building. In no case shall the height
of a light source mounted on a pole or on a building exceed
the height limits of the zoning district in which the use is
located unless allowed by conditional use permit.
e) Location.
(1) The Tight source of an outdoor Tight fixture shall be
setback a minimum of ten (10) feet from a street right -
of -way and five (5) feet from an interior side or rear lot
line.
(2) No light sources shall be located on the roof unless
said light enhances the architectural features of the
building and is approved by the Zoning Administrator.
f) Hours.
(1) The use of outdoor lighting for parking lots serving
commercial and industrial businesses shall be turned
off one (1) hour after closing, except for approved
security lighting.
(2) All illuminated on- premise and off - premise signs for
advertising purposes shall be turned off between
11:00 PM and sunrise except that said signs may be
illuminated while the business facility on the premise
is open for service.
g) Glare. Direct or reflected glare from high temperature
processes such as combustion or welding shall not be visible
from any adjoining property.
3) Outdoor Recreation. Outdoor recreational uses such as, but not
limited to, baseball fields, football fields, tennis courts and snow
skiing areas have special requirements for night time lighting. Due
to these unique circumstances, a conditional use permit shall be
required for outdoor lighting systems which do not comply
regulations of this section.
a) No outdoor recreation facility whether public or private shall
be illuminated after 11:00 PM.
b) Off - street parking areas for outdoor recreation uses which
are illuminated shall meet the requirements stated for
commercial and industrial applications as found in Section
401.15.B.7.f.2).a., b., c., e., and g.
c) The provisions for a conditional use permit, Section
401.03.A.8 of this Ordinance, are considered and
satisfactorily met.
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4) Outdoor Signs. All lighting of signing and informational or
visual communication devices shall be in compliance with Section
401.15.G of this Ordinance.
g. Prohibitions. The following outdoor lights are prohibited within the City of
Oak Park Heights:
1) The use of search lights for any business shall be limited to not
more than four (4) events per calendar year. During any one event,
the use of search lights shall be limited to five (5) days
consecutively and shall not be used between the hours of 10:30 PM
and sunrise.
2) Flashing lights.
h. Submission of Plans. All applications, except single family residential, that
include outdoor lighting must include evidence the proposed outdoor
lighting will comply with this section. The application shall contain the
following information, in addition to other required information:
1) Site plans indicating the location on the premises of all illuminating
devices, fixtures, lamps, supports, reflectors and other lighting
devices.
2) Description of the type of illuminating devices, fixtures, lamps,
supports, reflectors and other lighting devices. The description may
include, but is not limited to, catalog cuts by manufacturers and
drawings (including sections where required).
3) Photometric plans illustrating the angle of the cutoff or light
emissions, and illumination field of the proposed site lighting.
part of a structure, located on the surface of the ground or located on
freestanding poles.
9. Outdoor Light Fixture. Outdoor electrically powered illuminating devices,
outdoor lighting or reflective surfaces, lamps and similar devices,
permanently installed or portable, used for illumination or advertisement.
The fixture includes the hardware that houses the illumination source and to
which the illumination source is attached including, but not limited to, the
hardware casing. Such devices shall include, but are not limited to, search,
spot, and flood lights for:
a. Buildings and structures.
b. Recreational areas.
c. Parking lot lighting.
d. Landscaping lighting.
e. Signs.
f. Street lighting.
g. Product display area lighting.
h. Building overhangs and open canopies.
10. Security Lighting. Outdoor lighting fixtures installed exclusively as a measure
to reduce the possible occurrence of a crime on the property.
Figure 2 - Shielding
=(< 11. Shielding. A technique or method of
construction permanently covering
the top and sides of a light source Shield
by a material which restricts the light
emitted to be projected below an
imaginary horizontal plane passing
through the light fixture (see Figure
2).
•
* 12. Spillage. Any reflection, glare or
other artificial light that emits onto
any adjoining property or right -of-
way and is above a defined
maximum illumination.
Loading Space: A space or berth on the same lot with a building, or contiguous
to a group of buildings, for the temporary parking of a commercial vehicle while
loading or unloading merchandise or materials and which abuts upon a street, alley
or other appropriate means of access.
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