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January 2025 Millcreek Together Code Update I 18.68 Outdoor Lighting Summary Sheet Chapter 18.68 Outdoor Lighting Summary A. Purpose. The Millcreek Together General Plan identifies sustainable design and buildings as a goal. Dark Sky lighting standards are explicitly recognized as a strategy to implement. The purpose of these standards is to acknowledge dark skies as a resource to be protected and enjoyed by the Millcreek community and to limit light pollution and light trespass across property lines, reduce energy consumption, minimize the potential disruption to nocturnal ecosystems, and promote safe and efficient outdoor lighting. These standards only apply when a major change occurs to a site, requiring a site plan amendment or approval, or a conditional use permit. Residential lighting upgrades are exempt, as are landscape lighting and holiday lighting in general. B. What Changed. o A handful of chapters in our current ordinance have lighting standards, but they are often poorly specified and inconsistent. o This chapter is a consolidation of lighting standards that would apply to all development in all zones. C. What Remained the Same. o The standards for parking lot lighting remains the same. D. Rationale for Changes. These changes are proposed to implement a goal of the Millcreek Together General Plan and to move our lighting practices, particularly in commercial areas, toward a more dark-sky compliant format.