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Board advances minor land‑use amendments: tighter outdoor‑lighting rules and larger notice radius for rural projects
Summary
Supervisors approved a minor ordinance package that tightens outdoor lighting definitions (adds LEDs, removes a shielding exemption) and increases the noticing radius from 300 to 1,000 feet for energy storage projects and other projects outside urban and reserve lines; the board discussed but did not expand the larger notice universally.
The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday moved forward a set of minor amendments to the inland and coastal land‑use ordinances that adjust outdoor lighting standards and expand public notice for certain rural land‑use permits.
Planning staff proposed four related changes: eliminate an existing shielding exception for incandescent lamps up to 150 watts and add light‑emitting diodes (LEDs) to the definition of light sources in Titles 22 and 23; increase the noticing radius from 300 to 1,000 feet for energy storage facilities and for projects outside urban and rural reserve lines; codify the text of Measure A (1986) regarding onshore support facilities for offshore oil and gas; and extend 'school district housing' allowances in the coastal code to mirror inland language.
Supporters said the lighting changes are an incremental move toward a broader dark‑skies approach and would help code enforcement; opponents and some supervisors sought caution on a universal increase to notice because of the variable impacts and costs for smaller, low‑impact permits. Supervisor Ortiz‑Legg asked staff to consider special geographic treatment for Avila because of its one‑road geography and requested that notices in Avila be extended to 1,000 feet; staff indicated they can draft language and the planning director retains discretion to expand noticing on specific projects.
County staff recommended and the Board adopted the ordinance changes as presented. The new noticing rule will require larger mailed notice areas for energy storage and for rural projects outside urban/reserve lines; it applies to land‑use permits that go to public hearing (minor and conditional use permits, variances, map actions) rather than to routine over‑the‑counter permits.
What’s next: staff will prepare ordinance language and return the formal text for clerical adoption and will follow up in a priorities discussion with a board briefing on broader noticing practices as requested by several supervisors.
