ORD 579 ORDINANCE NO. 579
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 17.56.040 OF CHAPTER 17.56
OF TITLE 17 OF THE RANCHO PALOS VERDES MUNICIPAL CODE
TO UPDATE THE CITY'S EXISTING REGULATIONS FOR EXTERIOR
LIGHTING FOR NONRESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES, SPECIFYING THAT
LIGHT FIXTURES ARE TO BE FULLY SHIELDED SO THAT THE LIGHT
SOURCE IS NOT VISIBLE FROM ANY ADJACENT PROPERTY,
ESTABLISHING ACCEPTABLE COLOR TEMPERATURES FOR
EXTERIOR LIGHTS, IMPOSING RESTRICTIONS ON EXTERIOR
EMISSIONS BASED ON LUMENS INSTEAD OF WATTAGE, AND
ADDRESSING GLARE OF EXTERIOR LIGHTS TO VEHICLES ONTO
PUBLIC/PRIVATE STREETS.
WHEREAS, Section 17.56.040 (outdoor lighting for nonresidential uses) of the
Rancho Palos Verdes Municipal Code (the"Municipal Code") set forth various procedures and regulations
regarding outdoor lighting; and,
WHEREAS, between January 24, 2012 and February 25,2015,the Planning Commission reviewed
research on lighting standards used by other similar cities for the purpose of determining whether
amendments to the City's outdoor lighting Development Code should be considered. The Planning
Commission reviewed a compilation of outdoor lighting requirements for other Southern Californian cities
that are similar to Rancho Palos Verdes' semi-rural and/or coastal character, and other cities on the Palos
Verdes Peninsula. Additionally, the Planning Commission reviewed information from the Dark-Sky
Association and Portland, Maine that have recently established guidelines for regulating exterior lighting;
and
WHEREAS, on February 25, 2014, the Planning Commission directed Staff to bring a code
amendment initiation request to the City Council to improve the City's current exterior outdoor lighting
requirements for non-residential private projects throughout the City; and,
WHEREAS, on September 2, 2014, the City Council initiated a Code Amendment to move forward
with drafting an Ordinance to improve the City's existing Development Code Standards for exterior lighting
on nonresidential properties including, but not limited to, specifying that light fixtures are to be fully shielded
so the light source is not visible from any adjacent property, establishing acceptable color temperatures for
exterior lights, imposing restrictions on exterior light emissions based on lumens instead of wattage, and
addressing the glare of vehicles on public/private streets; and,
WHEREAS, the City Council hereby finds, in the exercise of its independent judgment and analysis
that the proposed Municipal Code amendments are categorically exempt from CEQA pursuant to the CEQA
Guidelines Section 15301 (Existing Facilities) which applies to the "operation, repair, maintenance,
permitting, leasing, licensing or minor alteration of existing public or private structures, facilities, mechanical
equipment or topographical features, involving negligible or no expansion of use beyond that existing at the
time of the lead agency's determination':. The exception applies to the proposed code amendment as the
amendment would only permit minor alteration of existing,developed nonresidential land for exterior lighting
improvements which would result in a negligible expansion of the existing nonresidential use. Additionally,
the proposed Municipal Code amendments are exempt from environmental review per CEQA Guidelines
under the General Rule (Section 15061(b)(3)) as the proposal does not have the potential to cause a
significant effect on the environment, as the amendment is proposed to alter the existing outdoor lighting
code language to further reduce lighting impacts related to glare.; and,
WHEREAS,on February 19,2015,a Public Notice was published in the Peninsula News and mailed
to all interested parties who had previously commented on outdoor lighting impacts throughout the City,
providing notice of a public hearing before the Planning Commission on March 10, 2015; and,
WHEREAS,the public hearing on the Outdoor Lighting Ordinance was continued a number of times
to April 14, 2015, April 28, 2015, June 23, 2015, July 28, 2015, and finally to a date uncertain in order to
allow the Outdoor Lighting Subcommittee additional time to review the draft language for the ordinance and
consider additional modifications before presenting to the Planning Commission; and,
WHEREAS, on December 10, 2015, a new Public Notice was published in the Peninsula News.
Additionally, a courtesy copy of the public notice was emailed to all interested parties who had previously
commented on outdoor lighting impacts throughout the City, providing notice of a public hearing before the
Planning Commission on January 12, 2016; and,
WHEREAS, after notice issued pursuant to the provisions of the Municipal Code, the Planning
Commission conducted a public hearing on January 12, 2016, at which time all interested parties were
given an opportunity to be heard and present evidence regarding said amendments to Sections 17.56.030
(outdoor lighting in residential uses)and 17.56.040(outdoor lighting in nonresidential uses)of the Municipal
Code as set forth in the Planning Commission Staff Report of that date. At the meeting, the Planning
Commission directed Staff to only move forward with the nonresidential text amendments, noting that
additional consideration and research for residential lighting needed to be further vetted to be considered
at a future publically noticed meeting. As a result, the Planning Commission continued the public hearing
to January 26, 2016; and,
WHEREAS, on January 26, 2016, after considering public testimony, the Planning Commission
adopted P.C. Resolution No. 2016-03, recommending that the City Council amend Municipal Code Section
17.56.040, as it pertains to exterior lighting requirements for nonresidential properties, including City Parks
and Facilities; and,
WHEREAS, on March 1, 2016, after notice issued pursuant to the provisions of the Rancho Palos
Verdes Municipal Code, the City Council of the City of Rancho Palos Verdes conducted and concluded a
duly noticed public hearing concerning the Municipal Code amendments contained herein as required by
law, and received testimony from City staff and all interested parties regarding the proposed amendments;
and,
WHEREAS, all legal prerequisites to the adoption of the Ordinance have occurred; and,
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES DOES
ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1.The facts set forth in the Recitals are true and correct.
Section 2. Section 17.56.040 (Outdoor lighting for nonresidential uses) of Chapter 17.56 (Environmental
Protection) of Title 17 (Zoning) of the Rancho Palos Verdes Municipal Code is hereby amended to read as
follows (proposed deletions ; proposed additions underlined) :
(17.56.040-Outdoor lighting for nonresidential uses.)
A. In order to protect the semi-rural character of the City and reduce excessive glare, light trespass,
or over-lighting, Nno outdoor lighting shall hereafter be installed in any nonresidential district, including
City Parks and City facilities, except in accordance with the provisions of this section.
AB. Prior to •= '------ - -- ' _ __-' '__ _ - -___ -_•_ installation of any new lighting, a lighting
plan shall'be reviewed and approved by the Director. Said lighting plan shall include a photometric
plan identifying the areas designed and intended for lighting, and indicating the maximum
illumination levels of less than a 0.01 foot candles at all property lines.Additionally, the lighting plan
shall provide lighting descriptions, including manufacturers catalog specifications, for all proposed
light fixtures, lamps and poles. Thee lighting plan shall be prepared by a lighting contractor, and
which shall include the location, height, number of lights on the entire property, , lumens of
each light bulb, =- '••- =- - ••- '--_-• ' _ ••'•_ '-- -• _' _ _-- and shall
be in conformance with the following standards and criteria:rshall-be submitted for-approval-by-the
1. e -•- ' - _ -•- - -__- !! - •- - •- Fixture Orientation. No outdoor lighting
shall be permitted where the light source be is directed toward or results
in direct illumination of a parcel of property or properties,other than that upon which
01203.0005/287041.1 Ordinance No.579
Page 2 of 6
such light source is physically located. a -•-=- = •=• -- '=• -•-
be calculated using the •• - '= •- - - •=- -- .- £ = -•
chapter, Accent lighting of buildings, trees or other landscape features may be
permitted,provided the lighting only accentuates those individual features, and not
an entire structure or landscaped area. Said accent lighting shall be directed onto
the building façade or tree, with no spillover beyond the façade of the building or
tree, and all lighting fixtures shall be fully shielded and mounted as close as
possible to the architectural feature of the building or tree being illuminated.
2. Illumination Limits. No one fixture or luminaire shall exceed 1,600 lumens. Accent
Lighting described in B(1) above shall not exceed 800 lumens.
3. Correlated Color Temperature (CCT). All outdoor lighting shall be of a low color
temperature, commonly referred to as neutral or warm color temperature. The
maximum CCT for each luminaire shall not exceed 4,000 Kelvin(K). Outdoor lights
that exceed 4,000 K., commonly referred to as cool color temperatures, are strictly,
prohibited.
2-4. Fixture Height. No outdoor lighting shall be permitted where the light source or fixture,
if located on a building, is above the line of the eaves. If the light source or fixture
is located on a building with no eaves, or if located on a standard or pole, the light
source or fixture shall not be more than ten feet above existing grade, adjacent to
the building or pole.
35. Light Trespass. The maximum illumination level at any property line shall be less
than a 0.01 foot candle, as measured at grade. Light trespass that results in glare
to neighboring properties or public/private streets is prohibited unless the Director
determines that there is no other alternative to provide security lighting required
by the California Building Code, or approves the use of alarm or motion-activated
security lighting. For the purposes of this section, "glare" means stray, unshielded
light striking the eye that results in discomfort glare, such as bright light causing
squinting of the eyes; and/or disabling glare, such as bright light that reduces the
ability to drive or see into shadows in certain instances where the glare from a
light fixture will create an impact to neighboring properties or public/private
streets, the applicant shall be required to comply with these standards to the
fullest extent possible.All estimates or testing shall be done with the entire facility
illuminated.
4. - •-- ---•----- - -- .- - -- ------ ---- - - -- --•- e equal appFeveci_by
6. Fixture Types. All light fixtures, including pole-mounted and wall-
mounted light fixtures, shall be fully shielded so that the light bulb is not visible from
the adjacent neighbors or streets. Said light fixtures shall be"cut-off'where lenses,
refractors or lamp sources do not extend below the surface of the fixture housing,
and no light shall be directed at or above the lowest horizontal plane of the light
fixture, as depicted in the examples established by this section, or as approved by
the Director. Louvered light fixtures shall not qualify as fully shielded fixtures.
01203.0005/287041.1 Ordinance No. 579
Page 3 of 6
Outdoor Lighting Examples
....
ACCEPTABLE
UNACCEPTABLE Fistum that Shield the Light Source to
Fixture*that Produce Glare Minimize Glare and Light Trespasts
and Light Trespass
Facilitating Better Night Vision
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Unshieldied or Poorly-shielded Floodlights Full Cutoff Fixtures
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shielded Wall M Ott A i fixtures Folly.shielded Wallpack at Wall Mount Fixtures
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*Period'Style Anuses Fully Shielded dB Polly Shielded
Security Light Security Light Period'Style Fixtures
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Unshielded Drop ens Shielded/Properly Aimed Flush Mourned
PAR Floottliertz Canopy Fixtures PAR Floodlights Canopy Rictuses
01203.0005/287041.1 Ordinance No.579
Page 4 of 6
U
ACCEPTABLE
UNACCEPTABLE
Fixtures that Product Glare Firtures that Shield the Light Source to
and Light Trespass Minimize Glare and Light 7fiutpass-
Facilitating Better Night Vision
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on io
la
Unshielded
Cutoff'
Street Lifht Sty Lot
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Unshielded Fully Shielded
Security Light Seery Light
Street and Parking Lot Pole Lighu Street and Parking Lot Pole lights
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f • i f • • : • ! ,•
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• • • ` • Should on
• This Side othe
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• • • • •• • • • • •• M •
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Your Property 14 Neighbor's° s 4 - Your Property 1014 Neil or's-•-••--*
Property Property
Street and Lot Light Cur.off at Property Line &net and Lot List Cut-off at Property Line
z Extinguishment of Lights. With the exception of approved security lighting, or
operational lighting conditions approved through a Conditional Use Permit, all
exterior lighting and parking lot lighting shall be extinguished by 10:00 pm.
C. Exemptions. The following outdoor lights shall be exempted from the requirements of this Section:
t Temporary construction or emergency lighting.
2• Holiday lighting.
01203.0005/287041.1 Ordinance No.579
Page 5 of 6
3. Exterior lighting for a temporary activity that is permitted through a Special Use
Permit, pursuant to Chapter 17.62.
4. Low voltage, landscape lighting that does not require a permit from Building and
Safety.
1D. The Planning Commission may approve deviations which exceed the standards set forth in Section
17.56.040(A)(1) through (A)(4) of this chapter when the Planning Commission finds that such
deviations are required for public safety, pursuant to the California Building Code. Said lighting
shall be depicted on a "security lighting plan" that is reviewed and approved by the Planning
Commission through a Site Plan Review application, prior to installation of said security lighting.
Section 5. Severability. If any section, subsection, subdivision, paragraph, sentence, clause or phrase of
this ordinance or its application to any person or circumstance, is for any reason held to be invalid or
unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, such invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect the
validity or enforceability of the remaining sections, subsections, subdivisions, paragraphs, sentences,
clauses or phrases of this ordinance, or its application to any other person or circumstance. The City
Council declares that it would have adopted each section, subsection, subdivision, paragraph, sentence,
clause, phrase hereof, irrespective of the fact that any one or more sections, subsections, subdivisions,
paragraphs, sentences, clauses or phrases hereof be declared invalid or unenforceable.
Section 6. Certification and Posting. The City Clerk shall cause this Ordinance to be posted in three (3)
public places in the City within fifteen (15) days after its passage, in accordance with the provisions of
Section 36933 of the Government Code. The City Clerk shall further certify to the adoption and posting of
this Ordinance, and shall cause this Ordinance and its certification, together with proof of posting, to be
entered in the Book of Ordinances of the Council of this City.
PASSED, APPROVED and ADOPTED this 15th day of March 2016.
1/ i/4—
M or
ATTEST:
611
City Clerk
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES )ss
CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES )
I, Carla Morreale, City Clerk of the City of Rancho Palos Verdes, do hereby certify that the whole number
of members of the City Council of said City is five;that the foregoing Ordinance No. 579 passed first reading
on March 1, 2016, was duly and regularly adopted by the City Council of said City at a regular meeting
thereof held on March 15, 2016, and that the same was passed and adopted by the following roll call vote:
AYES: Brooks, Duhovic, Misetich and Campbell
NOES: None
ABSENT: Dyda ----__-
ABSTAIN: None
oe
C1/;.(eLIM2Uldd:
City Clerk
01203.0005/287041.1 Ordinance No.579
Page 6 of 6
F145
CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ) SS AFFIDAVIT OF POSTING
CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES)
The undersigned, being first duly sworn, deposes and says:
That at all times herein mentioned, she was and now is the appointed City Clerk of
the City of Rancho Palos Verdes;
That on March 22, 2016, she caused to be posted the following document
entitled: ORDINANCE NO.579, AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 17.56.040
OF CHAPTER 17.56 OF TITLE 17 OF THE RANCHO PALOS VERDES MUNICIPAL
CODE TO UPDATE THE CITY'S EXISTING REGULATIONS FOR EXTERIOR
LIGHTING FOR NONRESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES, SPECIFYING THAT LIGHT
FIXTURES ARE TO BE FULLY SHIELDED SO THAT THE LIGHT SOURCE IS NOT
VISIBLE FROM ANY ADJACENT PROPERTY, ESTABLISHING ACCEPTABLE
COLOR TEMPERATURES FOR EXTERIOR LIGHTS, IMPOSING RESTRICTIONS
ON EXTERIOR EMISSIONS BASED ON LUMENS INSTEAD OF WATTAGE, AND
ADDRESSING GLARE OF EXTERIOR LIGHTS TO VEHICLES ONTO
PUBLIC/PRIVATE STREETS,a copy of which is attached hereto, in the following
locations:
City Hall Ladera Linda Community Center
30940 Hawthorne Blvd. 32201 Forrestal Drive
Rancho Palos Verdes Rancho Palos Verdes
Hesse Park
29301 Hawthorne Blvd.
Rancho Palos Verdes
I certify under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is a true and correct affidavit of
posting.
C(ItC—<144—City C�erk