21.17.070 Lighting zones.
A. The lighting zone shall determine the limitations for lighting as specified in this chapter. The lighting zones shall be as follows:
|
Recommended Uses or Areas |
Zoning Considerations |
|
|---|---|---|
|
LZ-1 |
Lighting Zone 1 pertains to areas where low ambient lighting levels are desirable. These typically include single- and two-family residential communities, and other areas with limited nighttime activity. May also include the developed areas in parks and other natural settings. |
Recommended default zone for low density residential areas. Includes single- or two-family residential districts, and open space including preserves in developed areas. |
|
LZ-2 |
Lighting Zone 2 pertains to areas with moderate ambient lighting levels. These typically include multifamily residential uses, institutional residential uses, schools, places of worship, hospitals, hotels/motels, commercial and/or business areas with evening activities embedded in predominately residential areas, recreational and playing fields serving neighborhoods, and/or mixed use development with a predominance of residential uses. Can be used to accommodate a district of outdoor sales or industry in an area otherwise zoned LZ-1. |
Recommended default zone for light commercial business districts, business parks and high density or mixed use residential districts. Includes neighborhood business districts, places of worship, schools and neighborhood recreation facilities, and light industrial zoning with modest nighttime uses or lighting requirements. |
|
LZ-3 |
Lighting Zone 3 pertains to areas with moderately high lighting levels. These typically include commercial corridors, high intensity suburban commercial areas, town centers, mixed use areas, industrial uses and shipping and rail yards with high nighttime activity, high use recreation and playing fields, regional shopping malls, car dealerships, gas stations, and other retail areas with outdoor nighttime activity. |
Recommended default zone for general business districts. Includes business zone districts and industrial and/or manufacturing zone districts. |
B. Lighting Zones Defined.
1. LZ-1: Low ambient lighting: Areas where the natural environment will be seriously and adversely affected by lighting. Impacts include disturbing the biological cycles of flora and fauna and/or detracting from human enjoyment and appreciation of the natural environment. Human activity is subordinate in importance to nature. The vision of human residents and users is adapted to the darkness, and they expect to see little or no lighting. When not needed, lighting should be extinguished.
2. LZ-2: Moderate ambient lighting: Areas of human activity where the vision of human residents and users is adapted to moderate light levels. Lighting may typically be used for safety and convenience but it is not necessarily uniform or continuous. After curfew, lighting may be extinguished or reduced as activity levels decline.
3. LZ-3: Moderately high ambient lighting: Areas of human activity where the vision of human residents and users is adapted to moderately high light levels. Lighting is generally desired for safety, security and/or convenience and it is often uniform and/or continuous. After curfew, lighting may be extinguished or reduced in most areas as activity levels decline.
C. The following chart determines which lighting zone generally applies to each zoning district on the city’s official zoning map. However, the specific use of a property, as described in Table 21.17.02, shall supersede the property’s zoning district when determining which lighting zone applies to the specific property or development.
|
ZONING DISTRICT |
||
|---|---|---|
|
LZ-1 |
RS-8, RS-7, RS-4, RML, RMM, P1 |
Single-family, low/medium density multifamily, mobile home parks, city low-use neighborhood parks |
|
LZ-2 |
RMH, MHP, NC, CDM, HMU, BTP, P1 |
High-density multifamily, mobile home parks, neighborhood-oriented business, business parks, places of worship, schools, larger city parks, office buildings |
|
LZ-3 |
CG, PRC, PCD, CC-C, CC-W, CC-N, ACC, CR, LI, P1 |
High-intensity commercial areas along arterials, Alderwood Mall, Transition Area, EDCC, Meadowdale Playfields, medium-intensity light industrial, car dealerships, office buildings |
(Ord. 3415 §§ 19, 20, 2022; Ord. 3178 § 2, 2016)