Commission reviews electronic message‑board rules; consultant urges dimmers, curfews

The Planning and Zoning Commission of the City of Wildwood heard an extended briefing on electronic message boards and related sign regulations, including experienced lighting consultant Randy Burkett’s recommendations on controls to limit glare and light pollution.

Burkett, of Burkett Lighting Design, told the commission that modern LEDs are far more efficient and concentrated than older sources and can create significant glare in otherwise dark settings. “The LED is the most efficient light source on Earth,” he said, and noted that electronic signs can now be dimmed to very low output. He recommended requiring integral dimmers, time‑of‑night curfews, limits on animation and content change rates, and location controls relative to transportation corridors so signs do not introduce hazardous transient adaptation for drivers and pedestrians.

City staff and the city attorney summarized ordinance approaches used elsewhere and possible options for Wildwood. City attorney Young said several example cities use conditional‑use reviews for changeable electronic signs outside commercial districts, and one city imposes an objective standard limiting sign output to 0.3 foot candles above ambient at night.

Why it matters: Commissioners framed the item as a policy tradeoff between residents’ desire to preserve Wildwood’s dark‑sky character and institutional users’ desire to publicize events. Commissioners and the mayor repeatedly noted concerns about animation, flashing, and the cumulative effect of many small sources, asking whether signage should be allowed only for civic or institutional uses (schools, fire district, libraries) and whether to require post‑installation measurement and re‑tuning.

Key points discussed - Dimming and curfews: Burkett said most modern displays have full‑range dimming and can be electronically limited to a percentage of daytime output; several panelists favored a curfew or reduced output after a specified hour. Commissioner Humphrey asked for explicit curfew and dimming language in any draft ordinance. - Measurement standards: Burkett and staff discussed measurement metrics — luminance and nits for display brightness, and foot‑candle comparison to ambient. The consultant and attorney noted guidance from the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) and examples in Kirkwood, Springfield, St. Charles and St. Peters. Attorney Young cited one ordinance that measures allowable sign output relative to ambient light (0.3 foot candles over ambient after dark). - Location and use limits: Commissioners pressed whether changeable signs should be limited to institutional/civic users and whether signs near major corridors should have stricter limitations to reduce driver distraction. Burkett emphasized that context matters: a display that is acceptable in a downtown (high ambient) environment is inappropriate in a dark, residential area. - Animation and rate of change: The group discussed limiting animation and requiring minimum dwell times (examples cited ranged 8–30 seconds) and black‑screen transitions or very slow fades to reduce distraction. - Enforcement and compliance: Planning staff warned that while a strong regulation can be drafted, long‑term compliance and enforcement present challenges (sign owners can reprogram displays). Staff recommended requiring manufacturer confirmation of dimming capability, post‑installation verification with a spot luminance meter, and written maintenance/dimming commitments in permits.

What the commission asked staff to do - Prepare draft ordinance language for May that would reflect options discussed: (a) restricting changeable electronic signs to civic/institutional uses; (b) required dimming capability and manufacturer certification; (c) objective nighttime limits (ambient plus X foot‑candles or a maximum nit/luminance by lighting zone); (d) restrictions on animation and minimum dwell/transition times; and (e) a process for post‑installation verification and enforcement.

Quotes “Most signs now have full range dimming…many of the cities in Arizona…select a curfew. Perhaps after midnight everything like this must be turned off or dimmed to 25%,” — Randy Burkett, Burkett Lighting Design.

“There are ordinances that require automatic dimming and the manufacturer to confirm in writing that the dimming capability exists,” — City Attorney Young.

Ending Staff said it will present draft regulatory language and examples from other cities at the commission’s May meeting and that the department will also supply technical exhibits (measurement guidance and model ordinance language) so the commission can determine whether to proceed with code changes. The commission also asked staff to include enforcement and post‑installation verification strategies in the May packet.