City Council Meeting Date: November 26, 2024
To: Mayor and City Council
City Administrator
From: Mikayla Schmidt, City Planner
Jake Reilly, Community Development Director
Title
Consideration of Second Reading of Ordinance 1064 Amendments to Chapter 34 - Land Development Code - Section 3.3.4 Outdoor Lighting Standards, Chapter 16 - Buildings and Building Regulations, and Chapter 46 - Nuisances in Regards to Outdoor Lighting Standards.
Body
Action Requested:
The Northfield City Council approves Second Reading of Ordinance 1064 Amendments to Chapter 34 - Land Development Code - Section 3.3.4 Outdoor Lighting Standards, Chapter 16 - Buildings and Building Regulations, and Chapter 46 - Nuisances in Regards to Outdoor Lighting Standards.
Summary Report:
The lighting standards have been reviewed, and modifications made, to further implement recommendations in the city’s Climate Action Plan and to address a stated desire to meet the goals of the “Dark Sky” initiative. While City staff and board members and commissioners recognize there are commercial and industrial uses which have a need for lighting, these standards have been modified to provide clarity in terms of materials and performance standards to assist in reducing overall lighting and glare impacts. The ordinance introduces a dampening of lighting after 11pm by 50% and also provides exceptions from this standard for certain establishments. This performance standard is new and should reduce overall lighting within the community during the later evening hours.
A draft of the text amendment was provided at the April 18, 2024, Planning Commission (PC) meeting and the public hearing at PC on June 20, 2024. No substantial changes were recommended from the PC from their April meeting. The PC recommend approval of the proposed changes to City Council at their June meeting and no public comment was received.
As can be seen from the ordinance draft, much of the language is already within the codified ordinance. Potential changes are found in strikeouts and underlines. Also attached is a working paper that has some information and ordinance reviews about dark sky standards for the Council’s information.
Staff did remove the language in the previous draft ordinance that referenced the Nuisance code back to the Lighting ordinance. Based on conversations with the City’s legal team, we felt leaving the original language was more appropriate for the City and the community in terms of enforcement of excessive or nuisance light. The original language leaves City staff with better language to enforce lighting issues because it gives a definitive measurement at the property line to measure and therefore enforce.
Residential lighting will be subject to this ordinance, but only projects that trigger a site plan review will be required to submit a lighting plan. For example, single-family homes would not be required to submit a lighting plan. Staff will share the lighting requirements with builders, so they are aware of the new regulations.
Staff Recommendation:
Staff recommends approval of the text amendment to City Council.
Alternative Options:
Additional changes to the document can be made.
Financial Impacts:
No direct financial impacts are expected with this ordinance. However, possible financial impacts include purchasing a light meter and additional staff time to enforce any adopted future code language.
Tentative Timelines:
April 18, 2024: Consider draft amendments
June 20, 2024: Public Hearing & PC Recommendation to City Council
August 5, 2024: First Reading at City Council
November 26, 2024: Second Reading at City Council and Summary Publication Notice
December 4, 2024: Summary Publication published in the newspaper
January 3, 2025: Ordinance goes into effect