HomeMy WebLinkAboutWaiver to Ord 642 - Desert Springs Market Place INTEROFFICE MEMORANDUM
City of Palm Desert
I. TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
II. REQUEST: CONSIDERATION OF A WAIVER TO ORDINANCE NO. 642
WHICH REGULATES LIGHT POLLUTION.
III. APPLICANT: CITY OF PALM DESERT
IV. CASE NO: 92-6
V. DATE: NOVEMBER 17, 1993
VI. CONTENTS:
A. Staff Recommendation
B. Discussion
A. STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
By minute motion determine the parking lot at Desert
Springs Market Place to be a Class 1 category where color
rendition is an important subject to the applicant using
maximum 250 watt high pressure sodium units with the
overall average not exceeding 2. 5 footcandles on the
parking lot surface.
B. DISCUSSION:
Ordinance No. 642 was adopted April, 1991. The Ordinance
regulates light sources in the City. The Ordinance
limits light sources for parking lots to low pressure
sodium lights (i. e. the yellow which is in use at Price
Club at Monterey and Dinah Shore) . At this time, there
are no examples of this lighting in the City. The other
centers along Highway 111 are all high pressure sodium
( i. e. white light) .
The applicant was prepared to submit a light plan using
low pressure sodium fixtures. Staff advised that we
would not be prepared to approve same inasmuch as the
City has no low pressure sodium in use other than the
Price Club which was installed under the County.
The Building Director in a memo dated March 17, 1992
(copy attached) made a case for considering Waring Plaza
as a Class 1 category ( i. e. area where color rendition is
important) based on the amount of public art that will be
placed at the center.
CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
DATE: NOVEMBER 17, 1993
CASE NO: 92-6
As well, City Council may wish to consider the impact of
installing low pressure sodium in an area where all other
existing parking lots are high pressure sodium (i. e.
across the street from Marriott) .
Of course all this must be weighed against the impacts
that this additional light will have on the Palomar
Observatory which is 43-44 miles from the site. Lighting
within 45 miles of the observatory is regulated by the
Ordinance.
Staff feels that we should not introduce a totally
foreign light source into an existing developed area. We
suggest the use of high pressure sodium with maximum 250
watt units with a maximum average light level of 2. 5
footcandles. This will be consistent with other parking
lots in the City.
Prepared by: S [ Z
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Reviewed and Approved by
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ITY COUNCIL , CTION:
`�'PROVFD t/ DENIED
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Original on File withity Clerk' s Office
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