Agenda - 12-07-2009 - 5a - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

~~ L MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY PLANNING BOARD OCTOBER 7, 2009 REGULAR MEETING Approved lU4/09 MEMBERS PRESENT: May Becker, At-Large Chapel Hill Township; Peter Hallenbeck, At-Large Cheeks Township; Mark Marcoplos, At-Large Bingham Township; Earl McKee, Little River Township Representative; Jeffrey Schmitt, Cedar Grove Township; Lany Wright, At-Large Cedar Grove Township; Rachel Phelps Hawkins, Hillsborough Representative; Tommy McNeill, Eno Township Representative; Judith Wegner, Bingham Township MEMBERS ABSENT: Brian Crawford, At-Large Eno Township (Chair); Mary Bobbitt-Cooke, Cheeks Township Representative; Samantha Cabe, Chapel Hill Township; STAFF PRESENT: Craig Benedict, Planning Director; Perdita Holtz, Planning Systems Coordinator; Tom Aftieri, Comprehensive Planning Supervisor, Tina Love, Administrative Assistant II OTHERS PRESENT: Sara ShiBIdS AGENDA ITEM 7: ZONING ORDINANCE TEXT AMENDMENT RELATING TO OUTDOOR LIGHTING • To make a recommendation to the BOCC on this proposed text amendment hear4d at the August 24, 2009 Quarterly Public Hearing Presenter.• Craig Benedict, Planning Director (Handout from Lany Wright: "Suggestions: Amendments Relating to Outdoor Lighting") Judith Wegner: This is something the Board of County Commissioners talked about at the Quarterly Public Hearing. One of the issues was about athletic events where schools have the athletic fields and some comment from the citizens about lights and cheering until and after 11:00 P.M. Craig Benedict: The context of the interest of the Board of County Commissioners to readdress outdoor lighting has been due to a few projects that have come up in the recent past. One was a farm Montessori school in a rural area and that would have lights and the other had dealt with Lattisville Grove Baptist Church. We notice in our regulations, should there be different standards for an urban area lighting standard versus a rural area lighting standard. We are giving direction that there should be differences between the amount of lighting that is anticipated or intended in an urban area and a more restrictive standard in a rural area both to intensity and timeframe. Judith Wegner: Could you speak to the dark skies efforts by people who do not want the stars to get blotted out by too much light. Craig Benedict: About five years ago Orange County did a more recent revamping of its Outdoor Lighting ordinances to adhere to some Dark Skies which is the organization that has interest in limiting light pollution so people can observe the stars, sky and planets at night. We made the first cut in 2003-2004 to suggest fixtures that are more cut off and lights don't spill out. We have been working with the electric companies to have some of their fixtures to adhere to these standards. We made the first cut and realized we did have standards that were one size fits all and then we took a look at the Dark Skies more recent thoughts and incorporated those thoughts into this. On page 19, I will now go through the outdoor lighting standards. There was a presentation in February of this year. We hope to proceed with this tonight or in November. If it is moved to November it would be more problematic for you to approve the minutes, we'd have to do it by some sort of email vote which we don't like to do. Earl McKee: Have you notated any sections that were questioned in that public hearing? Craig Benedict: I have a recollection about the property line. The definitions on page 19, 20 and 21 remain the same. Rachel Phelps Hawkins: I have a question about security lights. What about people who have security lights in their yards that are on all the time? Craig Benedict: They would prefer a new one. They have new standards so the lighting stays within the property and will not overflow. Any existing lighting was grandfathered in. In 2004 when we passed the ordinance, we had suggested an amortization schedule for people to change things out after eight to ten years. There is also a note there could be more changes in this ordinance but we will wait to hear your framework built. Then we will definitely and prioritize how to make additional amendments to this. Security lighting is allowed and lights that have sensors. 33