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Council denies exception to lighting rules for 1731 Cranston Road after Planning Commission recommendation
Summary
Atrium Properties sought an exception to off-street parking lighting requirements after redoing a parking lot at 1731 Cranston Road; Planning Commission recommended denial and council voted to deny the exception after no public testimony.
The Beloit City Council denied a request from Atrium Properties for an exception to the city's architectural-review and landscape code that would have waived lighting requirements for a commercial parking lot at 1731 Cranston Road.
Erin Nielsen (staff) told the council the applicant began removing, replacing and enlarging an existing commercial parking lot in April without submitting required site plans. Under the city's site-plan rules, a site plan is required when an existing parking lot is enlarged by 25% or when 25% or more of its surface is removed and replaced; site-plan review for this property required bringing the parking-area lighting into compliance with Section 34.1 of the Architectural Review and Landscape Code. The applicant did not provide a photometric or lighting plan and instead applied for an exception.
The application stated the property has operated as a retail use for more than 40 years and currently functions as a small nursery and garden center. Staff reported the renovated parking area will accommodate 11 spaces and said ambient lighting from the existing sign and building would be used. The applicant argued the lot is not used outside of normal business hours (business hours cited as 6 p.m. weekdays and 3 p.m. Saturdays) and that installing poles and fixtures would be cost-prohibitive.
Nielsen said city staff reviewed the four-code criteria that must be met to grant an exception and concluded that the criteria were not satisfied; the Planning Commission also held a public hearing and recommended denial. The council opened the public hearing, invited speakers and, seeing none, closed the hearing. Councilor Yousef moved to approve the exception; Councilor Terrell seconded. After council discussion, the motion failed and the exception request was denied.
The denial preserves the code requirement that parking areas comply with lighting and photometric standards unless an exception meeting all criteria is demonstrated. No detailed vote tally was recorded in the meeting transcript.
