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�o�o <br /> To: Chair Leskinen and Planning Commission Members <br /> Jessica Loftus, City Administrator yF � <br /> G <br /> l�XfS H��� <br /> From: Jeremy Barnhart, Community Development Director <br /> Date: September 21, 2015 <br /> Subject: #15-3784, City of Orono, <br /> Text Amendment: Lighting and Living Walls <br /> Public Hearing <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. <br /> List of Exhibits <br /> Draft Ordinance <br /> Light pollution health impacts <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 /> Analysis <br /> Li�htin� <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 /> 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 /> Options considered: Early drafts of the ordinance proposed regulated lighting in the zoning district <br />