Kern County Light Pollution, Outdoor Lighting, General Plan, Specific Plans
(Quick Notes - are just that, quick pages to save important information with minimal formatting and structure)
Kern County General Plan Notes and Additional Lighting Search Notes
GENERAL PLAN NOTES ----
Land Use, Open Space, and Conservation Element
(.pdf Page 47-48)
POLICIES: INDUSTRIAL
7. Require that industrial uses provide design features such as screen
walls, landscaping, increased height and/or setbacks, and lighting
restrictions between the boundaries of adjacent residential land use
designations so as to reduce impacts on residences due to light, noise,
sound, and vibration.
(.pdf Page 71)
1.10.7 Light and Glare
Policy
47. Ensure that light and glare from discretionary new development projects are minimized in rural as well as urban areas.
48. Encourage the use of low-glare lighting to minimize nighttime glare effects on neighboring properties.
Implementation
AA. The County shall utilize CEQA Guidelines and the provisions of the
Zoning Ordinance to minimize the impacts of light and glare on adjacent
properties and in rural undeveloped areas.
--------------------------------------
Additional Lighting Search Notes ---
COUNTY OF KERN STRATEGIC PLAN June 13, 2006
Update of the Kern County Strategic Plan
(.pdf Page 89)
Frazier Park
One participant noted that pollution needs to be a focal point, and development should encourage green technology.
One participant noted that light pollution could be hazardous to the
ability to view night skies. Participant notes that
citizens should use shield lights and motion sensors in lieu of letting
lights run all night long.
Participant encourages county to adopt default outdoor lighting zone one.
SPECIAL DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS
* Glare reduction from exterior lighting;
Kern County Director's Hearing Summary of Proceedings - February 15, 2007
(.pdf Page 2)
Revise Condition (4)(i) to read as follows:
(4)(i) All exterior lighting shall be directed away from adjacent
properties and roads. When lighting will be visible from a residential
district, the lighting standards shall be equipped with glare shields
or baffles and shall not exceed 40 feet in height above grade. Light
fixtures shall be maintained in sound operating conditions at all times.
SUMMARY OF PROCEEDINGS DIRECTOR'S HEARINGS Conference Room Date: February 8, 2007
(.pdf Page 1)
(5)(h) All exterior lighting shall be directed away from adjacent
properties and roads. When lighting will be visible from a residential
district, the lighting standards shall be equipped with glare shields
or baffles and shall not exceed 40 feet in height above grade. Light
fixtures shall be maintained in sound operating conditions at all times.
SUMMARY OF PROCEEDINGS KERN COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION Thursday, February 8, 2007 - 7:00 p.m.
(.pdf Page 1-2)
MR. ELLIS RECOMMENDED A CHANGE IN THE STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION ...
HE FELT OUTDOOR LIGHTING NEEDED TO BE DIRECTED DOWNWARD; ...
KERN COUNTY ZONING ORDINANCE - CHAPTER 19.56 (2/05)
C H A P T E R 19.56 PRECISE DEVELOPMENT (PD) COMBINING DISTRICT CONTENTS
(.pdf Page 5)
G. If design criteria apply the following additional items will need to be provided:
3. Type of lighting and lighting fixtures (provide a graphic)
a. The lighting graphic must demonstrate how the lighting complies with the design criteria of this title.
(.pdf Page 7)
19.56.210 DESIGN CRITERIA - KERN RIVER VALLEY
The following design criteria will be applied to all commercial and industrial zoned parcels
located within the boundaries of the Kern River Valley Specific Plan.
A. Signs
1. Sign lighting and style shall be compatible with Victorian,
Country/Old West, Rustic, or Southwestern architecture. No neon or
internally illuminated signs will be allowed.
(.pdf Page 16)
LIGHTING
A. Buildings shall be designed with the following lighting standards:
1. All exterior lighting shall be designed downward in a matter that
will reduce light and glare pollution onto neighboring properties and
roadways.
2. All security lighting shall be connected to a timer and/or motion detector.
3. Exterior lighting shall use one of the following types of light:
Metal Halide, High Pressure Sodium, Fluorescent, or Low Pressure Sodium.
4. Exterior lighting shall be fully shielded. “Fully Shielded” denotes
lighting fixtures which are shielded, focused, or constructed so that
light rays do not project horizontally or vertically up.
(.pdf Page 17)
(Graphic Examples of Good and Bad Fixtures)
[PDF] Draft Kern River Valley Specific Plan - Design Guidelines
http://www.co.kern.ca.us/planning/pdfs/KRVSP/DraftDesignGuidelines.pdf
[1M bytes]
Draft Kern River Valley Specific Plan
... LIGHTING A. Buildings shall be designed with the following lighting
standards: 1. All exterior lighting shall be designed downward in a
matter that will...
... neighboring properties and roadways. All security lighting shall be
connected to a timer and/or motion detector. Exterior lighting shall
use one of the following...
http://www.co.kern.ca.us/planning/pdfs/KRVSP/DraftDesignGuidelines.pdf
Draft Kern River Valley Specific Plan - Design Guidelines
C H A P T E R 19.+++ Architectural Design (D) Combining District
(.pdf Page 3)
E. A plot plan drawn at the scale specified by the Planning Director, which
includes the following information:
h. Location of lighting
(.pdf Page 4)
c. Type of lighting and lighting fixtures (provide a graphic)
i. The lighting graphic must demonstrate how the lighting
complies with the design guidelines of this title.
(.pdf Page 5)
SIGNS
Signs shall be designed to comply with the following standards.
A. Sign lighting and style shall be compatible with Victorian, Country/Old
West, Rustic, or Southwestern architecture. No neon or internally
illuminated signs will be allowed.
(.pdf Page 14)
LIGHTING
A. Buildings shall be designed with the following lighting standards:
1. All exterior lighting shall be designed downward in a matter that
will reduce light and glare pollution onto neighboring properties
and roadways.
2. All security lighting shall be connected to a timer and/or motion
detector.
3. Exterior lighting shall use one of the following types of light:
Metal Halide, High Pressure Sodium, Fluorescent, or Low Pressure
Sodium.
4. Exterior lighting shall be fully shielded. “Fully Shielded” denotes
lighting fixtures which are shielded, focused, or constructed so that
light rays do not project horizontally or vertically up.
(.pdf Page 15)
(Graphic Examples of Good and Bad Fixtures)
Strat Plan Final
... letting lights run all night long. Participant encourages county to
adopt default outdoor lighting zone one. One participant noted that
there is no long term water...
Search results generated by Blossom. Draft Kern River Valley Specific Plan - Table of Contents
http://www.co.kern.ca.us/planning/pdfs/KRVSP/Chp0TitlePage_TOC.pdf
Draft Kern River Valley Specific Plan
...............5-5 Light Pollution ................
Kernville-North Shore Specific Plan Meeting April 1, 2004
* Light & glare issues
*So Fork – clearing of native vegetation on small acreage property
(<sac) light and glare ("security lights") noise pollution off lake
SUMMARY OF PROCEEDINGS DIRECTOR'S HEARINGS Conference Room Date: January 4, 2007
(.pdf Page 2)
Greg Stockton, a neighboring property owner, was present and expressed
opposition to the parcel map waiver on the basis of the destruction of
the natural state of the area, traffic, noise, light pollution, and
privacy.
Kern River Valley Specific Plan - January 12, 2005, Meeting Summary (Revised)
(.pdf Page 6)
Design Guidelines
Light Pollution
o Eliminate light pollution
o No insane lights.
o If high candlepower lights are used (i.e. halogen, mercury, etc) mandate them to be
shielded or motion activated.
o Preserve night skies.
o Keep our dark skies dark
Draft Kern River Valley Specific Plan
Index Light Pollution.................5-8 (.pdf Page 30-31)
Implementation 2.1.7: Implement the Architectural Design (D) Combining
District to promote a more uniform architectural, site planning,
signage, lighting, and landscaping design.
Implementation 2.1.8: The County shall identify Dark Sky principles to include the following:
a. All exterior lighting shall be designed to point downward to reduce
light and glare pollution onto neighboring properties and roadways.
b. All security lighting shall be connected to a timer and/or motion detector.
c. Exterior lighting shall use one of the following types of light:
Metal Halide, High Pressure Sodium, Fluorescent, or Low Pressure Sodium.
d. Exterior lighting shall be fully shielded. “Fully Shielded”
denotes lighting fixtures which are shielded, focused, or constructed
so that light rays do not project horizontally or vertically up. (.pdf Page 35)
Residential Land Use - Residential Issues
Some residents have unshielded lighting that is continually operating
throughout the night. Several residents feel that the unshielded lighting
detracts from the Kern River Valley dark sky attribute.
(.pdf Page 59, Document page 5-8)
Light Pollution
c. Encouraging the retrofitting of existing development with water conserving devices.
Light Pollution
Light pollution is the adverse effect of man-made light and includes
sky glow, glare, light trespass, and light clutter. In the Kern River
Valley, light and glare pollution affect properties and structures, as
well as habitat and wildlife communities.
Light Pollution Issue
Unnatural lighting causes disturbances to night skies and wildlife.
Light Pollution Goal
Goal 5.4.1: Protect dark skies, and educate residents about the value and effectiveness of quality nighttime lighting.
Light Pollution Policies
Policy 5.4.1: Ensure that light and glare from discretionary new development projects are minimized.
Policy 5.4.2: The County shall promote Dark Sky principles (as defined)
in future residential, commercial, and industrial developments.
Light Pollution Implementation
Implementation 5.4.1: Implement the Architectural Design (D) Combining
District for commercial and industrial designated areas to promote the
Dark Sky principles identified below.
Implementation 5.4.2: The County shall identify Dark Sky principles to include the following:
a. All exterior lighting shall be designed to point downward in a
matter that will reduce light and glare pollution onto neighboring
properties and roadways.
b. All security lighting shall be connected to a timer and/or motion detector.
C o n s e rvation E l ement
c. Exterior lighting shall use one of the following types of light:
Metal Halide, High Pressure Sodium, Fluorescent, or Low Pressure Sodium.
d. Exterior lighting shall be fully shielded. “Fully Shielded” denotes
lighting fixtures which are shielded, focused, or constructed so that
light rays do not project horizontally or vertically.
Implementation 5.4.3: Dark sky principles shall be included in the Architecture Design (D) Combining District.
Implementation 5.4.4: As part of discretionary permits approval, plans
shall be reviewed for implementation of Dark Sky principles.