To: Planning Commission
From: Planning and Building Department
Agenda Section: Public Hearing
SUBJECT:
title
Inland and Coastal Outdoor Lighting Ordinances
Assessor Parcel Numbers (APN) 000-000-000
Record No.: LRP-2023-18849
Unincorporated Humboldt County.
A Public Hearing on the Inland and Coastal versions of the Outdoor Lighting Ordinance to include design guidelines for outdoor lighting to protect unincorporated Humboldt County from light pollution and light trespass. The proposed ordinances amend the zoning regulations to include outdoor lighting design guidelines by adding and modifying the following sections:
1. Adds Section 314-105.1 and amends 314-138, 314-141, 314-142, 314-147, and 314-154 in Chapter 4 of Division 1 of Title III of the County Code.
2. Adds Section 313-105.1 and amends 313-138, 313-141, 313-142, 313-147, and 313-154 in Chapter 3 of Division 1 of Title III of the County Code.
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RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Planning Commission:
1. Adopt resolutions (Resolutions 25-__ and 25-__) [Attachments 1 and 2] recommending that the Humboldt County Planning Commission take the following actions:
a. Consider the project specific Addendum to the Humboldt County General Plan Programmatic Environmental Impact Report (PEIR) that was prepared for the proposed Inland Outdoor Lighting Ordinance per §15164 of the State CEQA Guidelines [Attachment 1A];
b. Find that the proposed Coastal Outdoor Lighting Ordinance is exempt from environmental review under Section 15251(f) Exemption for Certified State Regulatory Programs of CEQA Guidelines;
c. Find that the proposed Inland and Coastal Outdoor Lighting Ordinances are in the Public Interest;
d. Find that the proposed Inland and Coastal Outdoor Lighting Ordinances are consistent with the General Plan or Local Coastal Plan;
e. Find that the proposed Inland and Coastal Outdoor Lighting Ordinances are consistent with the Purpose of Ordinance;
f. Recommend that the Board of Supervisors adopt the Inland Outdoor Lighting Ordinance adding Section 314-105.1 and amending 314-138, 314-141, 314-142, 314-147, and 314-154 in Chapter 4 of Division 1 of Title III of the County Code for the inland areas of the County [Attachment 3];
g. Recommend that the Board of Supervisors adopt the Coastal Outdoor Lighting Ordinance adding Section 313-105.1 and amending 313-138, 313-141, 313-142, 313-147, and 313-154 in Chapter 3 of Division 1 of Title III of the County Code for the coastal areas of the County [Attachment 4].
Body
DISCUSSION:
Project Location: All unincorporated areas of Humboldt County.
Present General Plan Land Use Designation: All land use designations.
Present Zoning: All zoning districts.
Environmental Review: Inland Outdoor Lighting Ordinance - A project specific Addendum to the Humboldt County General Plan Programmatic Environmental Impact Report (PEIR) has been prepared for consideration and adoption per §15164 of the State CEQA Guidelines.
Coastal Outdoor Lighting Ordinance - The proposed ordinance is exempt from environmental review under §15251(f) Exemption for Certified State Regulatory Programs of CEQA Guidelines.
State Appeal: Changes proposed to the Local Coastal Program (zoning ordinance provisions 313-105.1 and other sections of Chapter 3) must receive final certification from the California Coastal Commission before they become effective. The inland ordinance is not appealable to the California Coastal Commission.
Executive Summary:
The initial draft inland ordinance was taken to the Planning Commission for a Public Workshop on March 20, 2025. Additional analysis is discussed in the Planning Commission Workshop Staff Report 03.20.25 [Attachment 6]. After the workshop, a coastal version of the Outdoor Lighting Ordinance was drafted. Revisions to the inland version were in response to comments from the public and Planning Commission from the March 20th workshop and are discussed below.
Inland Outdoor Lighting Workshop
A workshop was held at the Planning Commission on March 20, 2025, to discuss the draft Inland Outdoor Lighting Ordinance. During that workshop, Staff and the Planning Commission discussed the following:
• Glare
o Planning Commission discussed the definition of glare and requested that the definition be revised. Upon further review, staff removed the definition of glare and references to glare because it was determined that the County will not regulate glare. Staff struggled with defining glare from a regulatory standpoint. Glare should be addressed through regulating light trespass and light pollution.
• Maximum Correlated Color Temperature (CCT) of 3000K
o Staff changed maximum CCT from 3000K to 2700K at the request of the Commission based off public comment.
• CCT versus Intensity
o Public comments called for a maximum intensity. Planning Commission and staff discussed options and decided to have a maximum CCT instead of a maximum intensity. This allows the public to have a bright light if they desire as long as it is fully shielded. Any light that is not fully shielded shall adhere to the maximum CCT and not contribute to light pollution or cause light trespass.
• Hours of Operation
o Staff removed the Hours of Operation at the request of the Commission.
• Parking Lot Lighting
o Staff removed “Motion sensor lighting is encouraged in parking lots to provide security and safety without a light constantly being lit” at the request of the Commission.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The draft ordinances have not been referred to other agencies.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Draft Inland Resolution
A. CEQA Addendum
2. Draft Coastal Resolution
3. Draft Inland Lighting Ordinance
4. Draft Coastal Lighting Ordinance
5. Public Comment
6. Planning Commission Workshop Staff Report 3.20.25
Please contact Reanne Meighan, Associate Planner, at rmeighan@co.humboldt.ca.us or 707-268-3713 if you have questions about this item.