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<br /> <br /> <br />To: Chair Leskinen and Planning Commission Members <br /> Jessica Loftus, City Administrator <br /> <br />From: Jeremy Barnhart, Community Development Director <br /> <br />Date: September 21, 2015 <br /> <br />Subject: #15-3784, City of Orono, <br />Text Amendment: Lighting and Living Walls <br />Public Hearing <br /> <br /> <br />List of Exhibits <br />Draft Ordinance <br />Light pollution health impacts <br /> <br />Background <br />City Council has directed staff to review city ordinances in response to a number of complaints <br />regarding lighting so placed to negatively impact the enjoyment of residential properties, and <br />the use of landscaping that has the same impact on lake views as structures. <br /> <br />Analysis <br />Lighting <br />Concern: In some situations, residential lighting can extend into adjacent properties negatively <br />impacting these adjacent homes. In standard suburban neighborhoods, houses are often a <br />uniform distance apart, and often share a front setback. In Orono, our unique neighborhoods <br />have evolved more creatively over time, and do not have uniform setbacks, nor do they have a <br />uniform orientation or separation from each other. The consequence is that the living areas of a <br />home are often adjacent to the more private areas of neighboring homes. Front security lights <br />may be in line with neighboring bedrooms, etc. <br /> <br />Solution: The most common, non-regulatory solution is for the property owner to adjust or shield <br />lights so that does not impact a neighbor. For situations where that does not occur, the proposed <br />regulatory solution establishes measurable (0.4 fc) lighting at the property line as a nuisance and <br />may be corrected through means offered in the code, including citations and mitigation. The <br />proposed ordinance also alters the existing text regarding Glare or Heat to a more specific <br />Lighting, and offers a definition and general requirements for the use of lighting. The ordinance <br />also requires light fixtures in the lake yard to be fully shielded, which is a new defined term. A full <br />moon on a cloudless night is approximately .03 foot candles, based on internet studies. <br /> <br />Options considered: Early drafts of the ordinance proposed regulated lighting in the zoning district <br />Application Summary: The draft ordinance proposes new language, defining glare and living <br />walls, establishing the same as nuisances, and provides lighting requirements. <br />Staff Recommendation: Planning Department Staff recommends approval of the ordinance as <br />drafted.