HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - Text amendment pertaining to lighting and alternative landscape standards ORDINANCE NO. 4137
AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE MUNICIPAL CODE OF THE CITY OF AMES,IOWA,BY REPEALING
SECTION 29.403(5)(a)(i)(a)(b)(ii),AND ADOPTING A NEW SECTION 29.403(5)(a)(i)(a)(b)(1)(2)(3)(ii),TO
AMEND LIGHTING STANDARDS ASSOCIATED WITH ALTERNATIVE LANDSCAPE PROVISIONS FOR
AUTO AND MARINE CRAFT TRADE USES;REPEALING ANY AND ALL ORDINANCES OR PARTS OF
ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT TO THE EXTENT OF SUCH CONFLICT;PROVIDING A PENALTY;AND
ESTABLISHING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS,the City has adopted landscaping standards for the following purposes:
i. Reduce heat-generating pavement.
ii. Provide greater space for trees to shade and cool pavement.
iii. Provide more space for trees to shade and cool buildings,thereby reducing energy consumption for
air conditioning.
iv. Reduce the number of lights needed to illuminate parking lots and thereby reduce energy consumption
and facilitate Dark Sky objectives
V. Reduce stormwater runoff from impervious surfaces; and
WHEREAS,the City's general landscaping standards for parking lots do not differentiate between parking lots serving
different types of uses; and
WHEREAS,parking lots for auto and marine craft trade are not only for purposes of providing parking for individuals
that visit or frequent the site,they also serve to display products for sale;and
WHEREAS,alternative landscaping standards for auto and marine craft trade parking lots have recently been adopted
that address the marketing needs of the auto sales industry while also ensuring that the stated purposes of landscape
standards are achieved;and
WHEREAS,information has been provided demonstrating that the maximum light levels associated with,and required
under,the recently adopted alternative landscape standards are not adequate for outdoor display areas;
NOW THEREFORE,BE IT ENACTED,by the City Council for the City of Ames,Iowa,that:
Section One. The Municipal Code of the City of Ames,Iowa shall be and the same is hereby amended by adopting a
new Section 29.403(5)(a)(i)(a)(b)(1)(2)(3)(ii),to read as follows:
a. Landscaped area between parking lot pavement and property lines.
i. Minimum Landscape Width—20 feet along all property lines abutting public right-of-way
lines, 10-feet along all other property lines along a zoning boundary, and 5 feet along all other property lines of
properties within the same zone,landscaped as follows:
a). Five feet of the landscaped setback shall be landscaped according to the L2,Low
Screen landscaping standards of this Section,with the balance landscaped according to subsection(d)below;or
b). Landscaped according to L 1 standards,except that required numbers of trees and
shrubs maybe strategically clustered to allow visual openings into the site. Trees and shrubs must be clustered in regular
intervals within required landscaped areas,spaced no greater than 200 feet apart. Each cluster shall include no less than
three trees spaced no greater than 15 feet apart(center to center)with the trunk of at least one tree in the cluster located
within 8 feet of the parking lot edge(to ensure some shading of abutting pavement). Because landscaping under this
option is less effective at softening impacts of lighting common to parking areas,all outdoor lighting shall conform to
the following regulations:
1) Lighting in sales display parking lots is limited to 15 foot candles average,
with a maximum 90 foot candles at a point on a 10 X 10 foot grid;except that after 10:00 p.m.lighting shall be reduced
to 2 foot candles average with a maximum 6 foot candles at a point on a 10 X 10 foot grid.*
2) Lighting in non-display parking lots (e.g., customer parking, employee
parking,storage areas)is limited to 2 foot candles average with a maximum 6 foot candles at a point on a 10 X 10 foot
grid.*
3) All lighting fixtures shall be shielded in such a manner that the lenses of
the fixtures are not visible from public rights-of-way
*Photometric layouts to utilize mean lumen output of light source design.
ii. Setback areas beyond the minimum setbacks shall be fully landscaped applying the
landscape element ratios in the LI General Landscaping standards of this Section.
Section Two. Violation of the provisions of this ordinance shall constitute a municipal infraction punishable
as set out by law.
Section Three. All ordinances,or parts of ordinances,in conflict herewith are hereby repealed to the extent
of such conflict,if any.
Section Four. This ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage and publication as
required by law.
Passed this 8`h day of January,2013.
w
Diane R.Voss,City Clerk Ann H. Campbell,Mayor