Subject:
Title
Project to Update Regulations on Outdoor Lighting
Body
Purpose:
Present draft TOwn Code that would regulate outdoor lighting (not in the right-of-way) in Vienna and hear Town Council feedback and discussion.
Key QUESTIONS:
Key questions for the Town Council are:
1. What feedback does the Town Council have on the draft code presented?
2. Provide policy guidance on four specific questions:
a. Clanton & Associates, the consultant that aided Department of Planning and Zoning staff with drafting the outdoor lighting ordinance updates, recommended that any on-premises illuminated signage larger than 100 square feet must be extinguished during nighttime curfew (10:00pm-6:00am). After speaking with the Town Business Liaison Committee (TBLC), staff believe that this requirement should be removed. What is Council’s preference?
b. Should the standards for illuminated signage in the Church Street District and the Church Street Vision Incentive Overlay align with one another?
c. Should electronic message centers be allowed for public, institutional, and community uses? If so, under what circumstances?
d. Does Council wish to strengthen outdoor lighting standards for residential neighborhoods? If so, should they be retroactively applied?
3. What is the next step in the process?
BACKGROUND SUMMARY:
In October 2023, the Town Council adopted a broad update to the Town of Vienna’s regulations for zoning and subdivision, which was accomplished through the project entitled Code Create Vienna and which became effective on January 1, 2024.
During Code Create and in subsequent work sessions in 2024, the Town Council recognized that the adopted regulations for outdoor lighting were broad and general, and requested that staff bring more refined recommendations forward. Town Council and staff also recognized, however, that staff did not have in-house expertise on this topic and the Council authorized staff to hire consultant support. After an RFP process, Clanton & Associates (https://www.clantonassociates.com/), a national expert on outdoor lighting, was hired to assist in the process.
Their process included studying existing conditions in Vienna; holding public community sessions; presenting to, and getting input from, both the Town Council and the Board of Architectural Review (BAR); and holding many discussions with staff.
The project Web page is on the Town’s Web site, at <https://www.viennava.gov/Town-Departments/Planning-Zoning/Zoning-Code-Map-Updates/Outdoor-Lighting-Regulations>. Links to Clanton’s public presentations may be viewed there.
The result was draft regulations for articles 4A (single-unit detached residential uses), 4B (multi-unit attached residential uses), 5A (commercial, industrial, and mixed uses), and 5B (public, institutional, and community uses). Clanton submitted their final draft in January 2026. Upon receiving the draft, DPZ staff continued refining the draft regulations to better suit the Town’s needs and align with State law. Staff also met and got input from the BAR, the Conservation and Sustainability Commission, and the Town Business Liaison Committee. Staff made subsequent edits to the document.
OVERVIEW:
The purpose of this work session is for staff to provide a presentation to the Town Council on the project and proposed amendments and to get feedback both on the overall approach and on specific policy questions.
Attachment 1 provides an overview of the project and discusses the key policy questions on which staff is requesting Council guidance.
Attachment 2 represents a clean version of the staff-refined document, also on which staff seeks discussion and guidance.
Attachment 3 is a redline version of the document.
Attachment 4 provides an Attorney General Advisory Opinion discussing local jurisdiction’s authority in Virginia to regulate outdoor lighting.
Attachment 5 provides the presentation document from the April 21, 2025, presentation to the Town Council at a work session.
SUMMARY/STAFF IMPRESSIONS:
Staff look forward to receiving Council’s guidance about the outstanding questions listed in the memo, as well as additional thoughts on other elements of the draft regulations as Council sees fit.
After receiving feedback from Council, staff will continue refining the draft zoning ordinance language per Council’s direction. Once Council deems the ordinance ready, they will refer the proposed language to the Planning Commission for a review and public hearing, after which it will return to Council for a public hearing and vote on adoption.
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommended Action
Provide guidance to Department of Planning and Zoning staff in order to prepare for public hearings with the Planning Commission and Town Council.