DEPARTMENT: Development Services
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Michael Shannon, Director
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT:
Military Lighting Overlay Districts, Section 35-339.04 Amendments
SUMMARY:
In 2008, the Military Lighting Overlay District (MLOD) was created to support night training missions and to regulate the installation and use of outdoor lighting within five (5) miles of Camp Bullis. In addition, the Bexar County Ambient Lighting Study was completed in 2015 and provided recommendations to protect the land adjacent to Joint Base San Antonio (JBSA) Lackland Air Force Base (AFB) and near Camp Bullis from light pollution and glare that would potentially impact the night training missions. Further, as part of the recently adopted 2016 SA Tomorrow Sustainability Plan, strategies were identified to evaluate and update the Dark Sky Ordinance. These combined factors led to the discussion and process to re-evaluate the existing MLOD ordinance and compare it to the Ambient Lighting Study. This process was managed by the Office of Sustainability and Development Services Department.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
There were four (4) Dark Sky Policy Evaluation Group Meetings and five (5) Task Force meetings from February 2017 thru November 2017. These meetings included stakeholders from Joint Base San Antonio, Chamber of Commerce, San Antonio Sign Association, Real Estate Council, CPS Energy, Sign Association, and AACOG, not to mention several different City Departments. This Task Force proposed amendments to the existing ordinance for outdoor lighting within five (5) miles of the perimeter of Military Bases.
The Task Force amended the existing Military Lighting Overlay District ordinance to regulate five (5) miles of the perimeter of both Lackland AFB and Camp Bullis. This ordinance will create two Military Lighting Regions (MLRs) around these bases. Military Lighting Region 1 will be placed within 3 miles of the installation (most restricted lighting). Military Lighting Region 2 will be placed between 3 and 5 miles of the installation (less restricted lighting). These regions will be regulated by backlight, uplight, and glare (BUG) ratings, Lumens, and Correlated Color Temperature.
The proposed changes, if approved by City Council, will require Re-Zoning cases to implement the updated ordinance around Camp Bullis and a Zoning case to establish the standards around Lackland.
On January 10, 2018, the Planning Commission recommended approval of the proposed amendments.
The City Council Community Health and Equity Committee will provide recommendation on the proposed amendments on January 25, 2018, prior to consideration by the full City Council for approval.
The Zoning Commission will provide recommendation on the proposed amendments on February 6, 2018, prior to consideration by the full City Council for approval. The Zoning Commission was originally scheduled to meet on January 16, 2018, but the meeting was cancelled due to City closure (inclement weather).
ALTERNATIVES:
As an alternative, City Council may choose not to move forward with approving actions needed to amend the Unified Development Code, Section 35-339.04.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact associated with this item.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of the ordinance amending Chapter 35 and directing staff to initiate the rezoning process for the properties surrounding Lackland AFB and Camp Bullis.