Agenda - 02-24-2003-c1a - Laserfiche WebLink

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~~~ ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS and PLANNING BOARD PUBLIC HEARING AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: February 24, 2003 Action Agenda Item No. C.1.a SUBJECT: Outdoor Lighting Standards Zoning Ordinance Amendment DEPARTMENT: Planning and Inspections PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) Yes ATTACHMENT(S): Proposed Ordinance INFORMATION CONTACT: Craig Benedict, Director, ext. 2592 Robert P Davis, Planner III, ext. 2580 Carla Thames, Planner I, ext. 2603 TELEPHONE NUMBERS: Hillsborough 732-8181 Chapel Hill 968-4501 Durham 688-7331 Mebane 336-227-2031 PURPOSE: To receive public comment on the proposed Outdoor Lighting Standards in the Zoning Ordinance BACKGROUND: Presently, the Orange County Zoning Ordinance does not have any outdoor lighting standards for new or existing development. Generally, the lighting information that the County reviews has been submitted as part of the site plan approval, limiting oversight to those projects requesting a construction authorization. As development and population numbers increase in the County an effective lighting standards ordinance that reflects community values can be an important component in helping to maintain a high quality of life. On occasion, the Planning Department receives complaints that specific lights exceed the brightness necessary to accomplish a particular task. Without clear standards, enforcement action is limited. In these cases, persuasion is the chief enforcement tool and generally has a low rate of success. More recently, there have been concerns about the general loss of darkness during the nighttime hours. `Light Pollution', the common term for sky glow, adversely affects astronomical observations of stars and also reduces nocturnal activities of various nighttime species. Without effective regulations, the detrimental aspect of wasteful, intrusive lights will continue to reduce darkness at night. G:currentplanning/carla/outdoorlightingstandards/abstract