Warrant Article Title:
BYLAW AMENDMENT/REGULATION OF OUTDOOR LIGHTING - UPLIGHTING 

Requested by:
(Inserted by the Select Board at the request of Paul Schlichtman and ten registered voters)

Discussion:

*This article returns to the Warrant from the 2020 Annual Town Meeting.

 

During the 2019 Annual Town Meeting, revisions were made to the Town’s “Outdoor Lighting” Bylaw, including revised provisions for the regulation of so-called “uplighting.”  These revisions may have had the unintended effect of regulating houses of worship and commercial buildings in a way not contemplated by Town Meeting.  The instant motion proposed by the Outdoor Lighting (or “Dark Skies”) Bylaw’s chief proponent Mr. Paul Schlichtman, affords Town Meeting the opportunity to correct any unintended regulations by adding buildings used for religious or commercial purposes to the list of properties exempt from uplighting restrictions.  The Select Board endorses positive action on this motion for the purposes of such a discussion at Town Meeting.

Vote Language:

That Title V, Article 14, Section 3D of the Town Bylaws be and hereby is amended as follows:

3(D). Up-lighting, the direct light illumination distributed above a 90 degree horizontal plane through the lowest direct light emitting part of the luminaire, is prohibited, except for signage governed by and permitted under the Arlington Zoning Bylaw, illumination of the United States Flag, the Flag of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, or other flags on Town and/or school property, Town, School, public building façades, buildings used for religious purposes, buildings used for commercial purposes, or a public monument. For any up-lighting, the luminaire shall be equipped with shields so that the lamp is not visible from a street, or a lot that is in Residential or Conservation use.

(5 – 0)

 

Select Board Report