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Planning commission reviews 300‑foot street‑light standard, asks for photometric plans and 25‑foot cap
Summary
City staff told the Planning Commission the city’s current street‑light spacing is 300 feet and recommended keeping it, while commissioners asked staff to require photometric plans, cap pole height at 25 feet and apply dark‑sky shielding for new subdivisions. Staff will return with draft ordinance language.
City planning staff summarized proposed language changes to Navasota’s subdivision ordinance Wednesday, urging the commission to consider retaining the city’s existing 300‑foot street‑light spacing while tightening technical requirements for new subdivisions.
At the workshop the presenter said the current code requires street lights every 300 feet and at intersections and cul‑de‑sacs, a standard used by neighboring cities. Staff recommended keeping 300 feet for typical residential streets but adding a requirement that developers submit a photometric plan showing light radii and coverage for each proposed installation so staff can verify gaps or overlaps and set lumen and color specifications.
Commissioners raised several concerns: trees in older neighborhoods can block light, leaving long unlit stretches when a lamp goes out; pole height changes the area covered by a fixture; and rapid changes in lighting technology mean prescriptive language can quickly become outdated. Multiple commissioners said limiting pole height to 25 feet and requiring cut‑off shields or alignment with dark‑sky recommendations would balance safety and neighborhood character.
Staff said the photometric plan would be paid for and prepared by the subdivision’s engineer and that the city already relies on the electric utility’s reporting app to fix existing out lights. Commissioners asked staff to return with model photometric language, a proposed 25‑foot height cap, and draft dark‑sky/shielding provisions for formal ordinance language.
The commission did not take final action; staff will draft ordinance text reflecting the requested photometric and dark‑sky controls for a future meeting.
