Missouri An Ordinance to Amend Zoning Ordinance Lighting Requirements and Restrictions Introduction: The Missouri An Ordinance to Amend Zoning Ordinance Lighting Requirements and Restrictions addresses the crucial aspects of lighting in various zones across the state. This ordinance recognizes the significance of appropriate lighting infrastructure to ensure public safety, promote energy efficiency, minimize light pollution, and maintain an aesthetically pleasing environment. By amending the existing zoning ordinance, Missouri aims to regulate lighting practices in different zones, ensuring compliance with updated standards. This detailed description explores the key features and types of amendments made in the Missouri Zoning Ordinance Lighting Requirements and Restrictions. Types of Missouri Zoning Ordinance Lighting Requirements and Restrictions: 1. Residential Zones: In residential zones, the amended ordinance sets forth requirements for lighting fixtures on private properties. These regulations aim to promote safety and limit light trespass, glare, and excessive brightness. Residential zones encompass predominantly housing areas and establish lighting restrictions to protect the tranquility and privacy of residents. 2. Commercial Zones: In commercial zones, lighting plays a significant role in enhancing business visibility, ensuring public safety, and creating an inviting atmosphere. The amended zoning ordinance sets specific lighting standards, including brightness levels, fixture types, and placement, to maintain an appropriate balance between commercial signage visibility and minimizing light pollution. 3. Industrial Zones: Industrial zones exhibit unique lighting requirements due to specific operational needs, security considerations, and potential hazards. This revised ordinance focuses on addressing industrial lighting regulations to enhance safety, reduce energy consumption, and mitigate potential light pollution. It establishes guidelines on appropriate fixtures, lighting angles, and shielding to minimize negative impacts on adjacent properties. 4. Parks and Recreational Zones: Missouri recognizes the importance of preserving the natural beauty and serenity of parks and recreational areas. The amended zoning ordinance incorporates lighting provisions specifically tailored to these zones. Its objective is to limit artificial light intrusion, conserve energy, and support nocturnal wildlife by utilizing low-intensity lighting, dark-sky compliant fixtures, and zoning restrictions. 5. Historical or Architectural Zones: Historical or architectural zones pose unique challenges for lighting regulations. These areas often entail preserving the historical integrity and architectural aesthetics while ensuring adequate illumination. The amended ordinance integrates guidelines that balance historical significance with safety and energy aspects, encouraging the use of period-appropriate lighting fixtures and innovative illumination techniques. Key Amendments in the Missouri Zoning Ordinance Lighting Requirements and Restrictions: 1. Maximum brightness levels: The ordinance now defines specific maximum brightness levels for different zones to avoid excessive glare and light trespass. These standards promote safe and comfortable nighttime environments while reducing energy waste. 2. Light fixture shielding: To minimize light pollution and unwanted brightness, the amended ordinance emphasizes the importance of proper fixture shielding. By directing light downward and reducing upward or sideways dispersion, shielding prevents light from causing disturbances to neighboring properties or the night sky. 3. Timers and Motion Sensors: The revised ordinance encourages the use of timers and motion sensors for outdoor lighting in applicable zones. Such technology ensures lights are active only when needed, reducing unnecessary energy consumption and promoting a more sustainable lighting approach. 4. Dark Sky Compliance: To protect the night sky and wildlife, the ordinance incorporates dark sky-compliant lighting guidelines for relevant zones. It encourages the use of shielded and properly directed fixtures to prevent unnecessary upward illumination and minimize light pollution. 5. Lighting Plan Approval: The amended ordinance now requires the submission and approval of a lighting plan during the zoning approval process. This aims to ensure compliance with the lighting requirements and restrict any potential violations that may arise during development or improvement projects. Conclusion: The Missouri An Ordinance to Amend Zoning Ordinance Lighting Requirements and Restrictions encompasses various zones and establishes specific lighting standards to regulate illumination practices. By introducing amendments tailored to residential, commercial, industrial, parks and recreational, and historical zones, Missouri intends to promote safety, energy efficiency, minimize light pollution, and maintain the aesthetic appeal of different areas. Through the implementation of maximum brightness levels, fixture shielding, technology integration, dark sky compliance, and lighting plan approval, this ordinance strives to create a harmonious coexistence between artificial lighting and the natural environment.