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 ord...
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