Chapter 12.20 — STREET LIGHTS

It is the purpose and intent of this chapter, to require a building permittee or subdivider to provide for installation of street light(s) in accordance with the requirements and standards set forth in this chapter. The council finds and determines that the regulations set forth in this chapter are both reasonable and necessary for the following reasons:

A.

That the population growth and commercial growth of the Grass Valley area during the past five years has been accompanied by an increase in the number of vehicles and pedestrians using the streets within the city, an increase in vehicular and pedestrian accidents, and an increase in the number of crimes, and

B.

That the improvement and development of property generate an increase in traffic and pedestrians abutting upon such property and installation of street lighting in such areas confers a direct benefit upon the owners and users of the developed property.

(Prior code § 21-16)

No property shall be subdivided and no building or structure shall be erected or enlarged, and no building permit shall be issued on any existing lot if such lot abuts on a dedicated street or streets or on a street(s) required to be dedicated as a result of subdivision unless:

A.

Street lights shall be installed along the street frontage of the lot as are provided in a resolution by the city council and other applicable provisions of this chapter;

B.

Where a development is on only one side of a street and street lights are required, lights shall be required per city standards with reimbursement when future developments occur on the opposite side of the street. To affect this section of the ordinance codified in this chapter a council hearing is required on the reimbursement provision. If no approval for reimbursement is given the entire cost of street light installation shall be the developer's;

C.

The developer/builder, upon design approval and report by the city engineer of the proposed street lights, their type and cost, shall pay all costs for installation and dedicate any easements necessary;

D.

A building permit may be issued for new construction or subdivision without first improving such dedicated property, if the permittee enters into a secured agreement with the city to perform such improvements within one year from the date of the building permit.

(Prior code § 21-17)

A.

In general, street lights shall be placed at intersections and between blocks in residential areas at one hundred seventy-five-foot to two hundred fifty-foot spacing for sixteen-foot-high, seventy watt HPSV lights and at closer intervals in commercial areas. More than one street light may be required at an intersection depending on traffic, sight distance, and pedestrian use. Other lighting and lights, height standards and spacing will be determined, and may be used, depending upon the proposed facilities and area location.

For split-level streets, streets with sharp turns, and wide streets where the desired lighting is not obtained, additional light and/or lights on both sides of the street may be required.

B.

The exact location, type of pole, height of pole, type and size of luminaire, and fixture will be determined by the city engineer after consultation with the local utility company.

C.

In all existing underground-wired districts and new subdivisions, wiring to street lights shall be underground and poles shall be located behind back of sidewalk in dedicated easements wherever possible. In existing overhead pole areas, overhead pole-mounted arms and luminaries may be allowed.

D.

The type of pole, luminaires, lights and utility lighting schedule to be utilized will be those determined most advantageous to the city and the developer will be responsible for implementing and paying for all costs associated with the installation of the lighting system selected.

(Prior code § 21-18)

A.

The street light dedication and improvement provisions of this chapter shall not apply to building permits for additions and accessory buildings incidental to the residential building existing on the lot if such additions and accessory buildings have less than three hundred square feet as a total cumulative floor area.

B.

The city council may, upon application of a property owner affected by the provisions of this chapter, waive the requirements for installation of street lights because of unusual circumstances or hardship.

C.

No street lights will be required where adequate lighting already exists. However, should a development require removal or relocation of existing lights, the cost of relocating city-owned poles and systems shall be the developer's and secured as in Section 12.20.020 of this chapter.

(Prior code § 21-19)