Agoura Hills City Council approves new outdoor light ordinance

By Stephanie Bertholdo Acorn Staff Writer

The city of Agoura Hills is tightening its outdoor lighting ordinance. It was discussed at last week’s council meeting.

City Councilman Ed Corridori fine-tuned the plan and presented proposed amendments following earlier discussions.

Holiday lighting on commercial properties will be okay from Nov. 15 through Jan. 15 without review by the city.

The council members clearly wanted to preserve the semi-rural ambience of the area and protect the viewshed.

They also wanted to keep residential neighborhoods screened from glare and from roof lights on commercial businesses. In all, nine lighting guidelines were set.

Outdoor lights on business properties will require a comprehensive lighting plan prepared by a licensed professional. The plan must include specifics on the size, type and power of lights. All lighting plans must be reviewed by the city’s director of planning and community development or the planning commission.

A lively discussion reflected the council’s diversified feelings about outdoor illumination.

City Councilwoman Louise Rishoff objected to guideline No.4, which said that retail businesses could be illuminated by side and roof-mounted lights, with a focus on lighting entryways, pathways and areas of interest to pedestrians, including oak trees.

"My preference would be that side and roof mounted lights are discontinued," Rishoff said. She feared that every retail establishment would include side and roof lights, which, she said, would detract from views of the hills and open space.

Mayor Pro Tem Dan Kuperberg continued to object to string lights on commercial buildings. String lighting during the holidays especially troubled him.

"I still have a problem with holiday lights lasting two of the 12 months," he said. Kuperberg wanted language added to the guidelines that would define excessive lighting. "A 45,000-foot sled would be excessive," he said.

Corridori said that he didn’t think it was practical to mandate city approval of holiday lighting. "I don’t recall there’s ever been a problem," he said, adding that the two-month time frame for holiday lighting seemed reasonable. Corridori agreed with Rishoff on the issue of side and roof mounted lighting. He also said the guidelines should be tightened to preserve the city’s "twilight ambience."

Members voted 4 to 1 in favor of changing the lighting ordinance to include the new architectural design standards and guidelines.

Kuperberg opposed it.