By Karen Haave
Outdoor flood light displays won’t become a nuisance to Monee residents any time soon thanks to a village ordinance approved by the board of trustees last week. The ordinance is an amendment to Title 11, Chapter 7, Section 1 of the village code for outdoor lighting.
Village Attorney Lawrence Gryczewski told the board the amended ordinance had been reviewed and given the go-ahead by the village planning commission and recommended by the village’s engineering consultants. He emphasized that it is a “proactive” and “preventative” measure and not prompted by resident complaints. It is intended, he said, to prevent bright lighting from becoming a nuisance.
It covers only floodlights and not the small, bare-bulb strings of “Edison lights” sometimes seen on backyard patios and decks. It regulates lights for businesses, as well as those in private residential areas.
It stipulates that “exterior lighting in residential areas, except street lighting and those required by village ordinance, shall be shielded and/or directed in such a manner that it illuminates only the user’s premises and does not spill over into neighboring residential areas so as to interfere with the peaceful enjoyment of residential or public properties.
“All residents’ properties are subject to the following:
  • “Flood lights are only permitted when they are downlights and installed such that the fixture shall be aimed down at least 45 degrees from vertical.
  • “The village may require shields to be installed on any lights determined to be a nuisance before, during, or after the installation when needed to further reduce glare and lighting trespass.
  • “Luminaries used for uplighting for flags, address markers, trees, architectural features, and low landscape lighting must be located, aimed, and shielded so that direct illumination is focused exclusively on the object and away from adjoining properties and public thoroughfares.”
The ordinance was approved unanimously by the full board.