During its Regular Council Meeting on January 10, 2022, the Village Council adopted an ordinance on third reading, which regulates outdoor lighting throughout the Village. The new measures are part of a series of recommendations made by the Neighborhood Protection Committee in their final report to the Village Council. The committee was formed for the purpose of considering what actions could be taken to more effectively implement the provisions of Section 10.2 of the
Village Charter, entitled Neighborhood Protection.
The adopted ordinance amends Chapter 30, Article II, Division 60, Section 6 of the Village of Palmetto Bay's Code of Ordinances to provide that outdoor lighting "shall mean lighting that will minimize glare, light trespass, and skyglow; conserve energy while maintaining nighttime safety, security and productivity; protect the privacy of residents; minimize disturbance of wildlife; enhance the ambiance of the community; and ensure optimal viewing of spectacular night skies above the Village." The scope of the ordinance now includes lighting of basketball courts and limits the maximum overall heights of lights within all recreational districts to 18 feet. Additionally, the new section provides that lights "shall not be illuminated between the hours of 10 p.m. and 8 a.m. daily."
Recommendations by the
Neighborhood Protection Committee were provided to the Village Council in the form of a report. The recommendations require action by the Council in the form of an ordinance or resolution, depending on the specific item, before becoming policy.
As the ordinance indicates, the new rules "apply to all applications for development [within the Village of Palmetto Bay], including building permit applications and subdivision proposals, submitted on or after the effective date of this ordinance." The ordinance became effective on January 10, 2022.
