Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Zoning Lighting topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Fluvanna planning commission approves resolution to advertise public hearing on outdoor lighting changes
Summary
The Fluvanna County Planning Commission voted 3-0 to authorize a public hearing on ZTA 25‑03, which would remove an obsolete graphics reference and raise average horizontal illumination limits for parking areas and gasoline station canopies.
The Fluvanna County Planning Commission voted to advertise a public hearing on March 11, 2025, to consider Zoning Text Amendment ZTA 25‑03, a proposed change to the county zoning ordinance that would remove an obsolete reference to "example graphics" and raise average horizontal illumination limits for certain exterior lighting.
The commission’s action authorizes the director of planning to publish notice for a public hearing on the proposed amendments to section 22‑25‑4 (removing the phrase “refer to example graphics” from the full cutoff angle description) and section 22‑25‑6 (increasing average horizontal illumination levels for parking, display and loading areas and for gasoline station/convenience store aprons and canopies). Mr. Fortune presented the proposed changes and explained staff research comparing other localities’ standards.
Under the draft amendment presented, average horizontal illumination for gasoline station aprons and canopies would increase from 10 foot‑candles to an average of 20 foot‑candles at grade; maximum average horizontal illumination for parking, display and loading areas would change from 2.5 to 5 foot‑candles. The presentation noted the removal of the phrase about example graphics because the county does not maintain such graphics.
Commissioners asked staff how the numeric values were chosen. Mr. Fortune said staff used comparisons with other localities and an engineer’s guidance; he noted Albemarle County uses lumen-based thresholds and Greene County regulates at the property line. Commissioners also raised concerns about preserving dark‑sky character and asked about existing spillover and mounting‑height controls. Mr. Fortune pointed to existing ordinance provisions: a spillover limit of 0.5 foot‑candles at property lines, full cutoff and shielding requirements, and maximum mounting heights of 15 feet in residential zones and 20 feet in nonresidential zones.
The commission took a procedural vote to authorize advertisement of the public hearing. Ms. Moore Smith moved to approve the resolution; Ms. Kilpatrick seconded. The chair recorded the motion as approved, with a recorded result of 3 yes, 0 no, 2 absent.
Votes at a glance - Motion to advertise public hearing on ZTA 25‑03 (remove obsolete graphics reference; change average horizontal illumination levels): moved by Ms. Moore Smith; seconded by Ms. Kilpatrick; outcome: approved, 3 yes, 0 no, 2 absent. - Agenda adoption (amend item 7 wording to "ZTA 25‑03 outdoor light controls"): moved by Ms. Kilpatrick; seconded by Ms. Morgan; outcome: approved (chair recorded "aye"). - Approval of minutes with minor corrections: moved by Ms. Kilpatrick; seconded by Ms. Morgan; outcome: approved (chair recorded "aye"). - Motion to adjourn: moved by Ms. Kilpatrick; seconded by Ms. Morgan; outcome: approved, 3 yes, 0 no, 2 absent.
The commission’s vote tonight only authorized advertising the amendments; it did not adopt the ordinance. A public hearing and additional deliberation will occur on March 11, 2025, where members of the public can comment before any final recommendation to the governing body.
