Clermont planning commission adopts dark‑sky lighting standards, sets phased retrofit timeline

The City of Clermont Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously approved an amendment to the Land Development Code (ordinance 2026‑025) and a companion resolution (2026‑022R) establishing enforceable outdoor lighting standards to minimize glare, reduce light trespass and align the city with Dark Sky International and Illuminating Engineering Society model guidance.

Justine Day, Development Services, said the draft ordinance would repeal older sections and create a new chapter with measurable standards; staff recommended phased implementation, an inventory of city‑owned fixtures within 12 months and annual council updates until compliance. The draft requires coordination with Duke Energy and other utilities and sets retrofit windows: new and city‑leased fixtures must comply by 09/01/2031, and existing nonconforming fixtures must comply upon replacement or by 09/01/2036.

Commissioner Kramer praised the proposal and asked for technical specificity on which Dark Sky/IES documents underpin the numeric thresholds. The city attorney (speaker 9) responded that the draft intentionally sets local numeric standards rather than simply deferring to external organizations, so Clermont can adopt its own numbers and avoid automatic changes if those model organizations update their guidance.

Commissioners also questioned whether adaptive controls and the ordinance’s measurement language apply to residential porch and landscape lighting; staff said the standards apply to all outdoor fixtures and noted certain lumen‑based exemptions for residential landscape lighting would be considered in final language. The commission voted to adopt the ordinance and the implementing resolution; both measures passed unanimously.