TITLE
Vote on a request to schedule a public hearing to repeal the Chatham County Lighting Ordinance. The purpose of this Ordinance is to provide outdoor lighting regulations for the unzoned portions of the County.
ABSTRACT
Action Requested:
Vote on a request to schedule a public hearing to repeal the Chatham County Lighting Ordinance. The purpose of this Ordinance is to provide outdoor lighting regulations for the unzoned portions of the County.
Introduction & Background:
During the March 21, 2016 Board of Commissioners meeting a public hearing was scheduled for June 6, 2016 to extend zoning to areas of the county that are currently unzoned. During the discussion, planning staff noted that if zoning applies countywide that the Lighting Ordinance would no longer be necessary since there is a lighting section in the Zoning Ordinance.
Discussion & Analysis:
The Lighting Ordinance was adopted by the Board of Commissioners in September 2009 with an effective date of January 1, 2010. A copy of the ordinance can be viewed at the following website link - <http://www.chathamnc.org/index.aspx?page=440> and selecting “Countywide Lighting Ordinance”. The ordinance was adopted to apply to unzoned areas of the county and the text mirrors Section 13, Lighting, of the Zoning Ordinance. The Commissioners intent was to have uniform standards apply throughout the county. The standards only apply to exterior lighting and there are standards for residential, non-residential, and street lighting. The stand-alone ordinance will no longer be needed is zoning is adopted for the remainder of the county.
Recommendation:
Schedule a public hearing to consider repealing the Chatham County Lighting Ordinance for June 6, 2016.