23.47A.022

A. Exterior lighting must be shielded and directed away from adjacent uses. B. Interior lighting in parking garages must be shielded to minimize nighttime glare affecting nearby uses. C. To prevent vehicle lights from affecting adjacent properties, driveways and parking areas for more than two (2) vehicles shall be screened from adjacent properties by a fence or wall between five (5) feet and six (6) feet in height, or solid evergreen hedge or landscaped berm at least five (5) feet in height. If the elevation of the lot line is different from the finished elevation of the driveways or parking surface, the difference in elevation may substitute for a portion of the required height of the screen so long as the screen itself is a minimum of three (3) feet in height. The Director may waive the requirement for the screening if it is not needed due to changes in topography, agreements to maintain an existing fence, or the nature and location of adjacent uses. D. Height. 1. Exterior lighting on poles is permitted up to a maximum height of thirty (30) feet from finished grade. In zones with a forty (40) foot or greater height limit, exterior lighting on poles is permitted up to a height of forty (40) feet from finished grade, provided that the ratio of watts to area is at least twenty (20) percent below the maximum exterior lighting level permitted by the Energy Code. 2. Athletic Fields. a. Light poles for illumination of athletic fields on new and existing public school sites may exceed the maximum permitted height set forth in subsection D1, above, up to a maximum height of one hundred (100) feet, where determined by the Director to be necessary to ensure adequate illumination and where the Director determines that impacts from light and glare are minimized to the greatest extent practicable. The applicant must submit an engineer's report demonstrating that impacts from light and glare are minimized to the greatest extent practicable. When proposed light poles are reviewed as part of a project being reviewed pursuant to Chapter 25.05 , Environmental Policies and Procedures, and requiring a SEPA determination, the applicant must demonstrate that the additional height contributes to a reduction in impacts from light and glare. b. When proposed light poles are not included in a proposal being reviewed pursuant to Chapter 25.05 , the Director may permit the additional height as a special exception subject to Chapter 23.76 , Procedures for Master Use Permits and Council Land Use Decisions. (1) When seeking a special exception for taller light standards, the applicant must submit an engineer's report demonstrating that the additional height contributes to a reduction in impacts from light and glare. When the proposal will result in extending the lighted area's duration of use, the applicant must address and mitigate potential impacts, including but not limited to, increased duration of noise, traffic, and parking demand. The applicant also must demonstrate it has conducted a public workshop for residents within (⅛) one-eighth of a mile of the affected school in order to solicit comments and suggestions on design as well as potential impacts. (2) The Director may condition a special exception to address negative impacts from light and glare on surrounding areas, and may also impose conditions to address other impacts associated with increased field use due to the addition of lights, including, but not limited to, increased noise, traffic, and parking demand. E. Glare diagrams that clearly identify potential adverse glare impacts on residential zones and on arterials shall be required when: 1. Any structure is proposed to have a facade of reflective coated glass or other highly reflective material, and/or new or expanded structures greater than 65 feet in height are proposed to have more than 30 percent of a facade composed of clear or tinted glass; and 2. The facade(s) surfaced or composed of materials referred to in subsection 23.47A.022.E.1 above either: a. are oriented toward and are less than 200 feet from any residential zone, and/or b. are oriented toward and are less than 400 feet from any arterial with more than 15,000 vehicle trips per day, according to Seattle Department of Transportation data. 3. When glare diagrams are required, the Director may require modification of the plans to mitigate adverse impacts, using methods including but not limited to the following: a. Minimizing the percentage of exterior facade that is composed of glass; b. Using exterior glass of low reflectance; c. Tilting glass areas to prevent glare that could affect arterials, pedestrians or surrounding structures; d. Alternating glass and non-glass materials on the exterior facade; and e. Changing the orientation of the structure. (Ord. 125272 , § 30, 2017; Ord. 122311 , § 44, 2006.)