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during their nesting season (May 1 - October 31) by restricting <br />outdoor lighting in beach areas. Research has demonstrated <br />that light intensity, primarily on the horizon, is the main <br />visual cue in the orientation of turtle hatchlings to the sea. <br />Studies have also shown that bright artificial lights along <br />nesting beaches will disorient hatchlings, causing them to <br />spend extended periods of time wandering landward or along the <br />beach. Such disorientation usually results in an increase in <br />mortality and a-weakeningof those hatchlings that eventually <br />do reach the sea. <br />On November 13, 1986, the Planning & Zoning Commission, having <br />specific concerns with the draft ordinance as it was written, <br />voted 6-0 to recommend that staff conduct a workshop with <br />interested organizations, prepare a revised draft and bring the <br />ordinance back to the Commission for further deliberation. <br />These concerns expressed by the Commission members were as <br />follows: <br />1) Lighting which does not conform with the proposed <br />ordinance requirements cannot be identified until <br />after construction has been completed; <br />2) Violations associated with non -fixed artificial <br />lighting such as flashlights and vehicular lights are <br />impossible to enforce; <br />3) The ordinance, in general, is difficult to enforce <br />As directed by the Planning and Zoning Commission, staff held a <br />public workshop on the turtle protection ordinance on December <br />12, 1986. The current draft, prepared and made available to <br />the public prior to the workshop, was discussed and those <br />attending found significant improvement in the revision offered <br />by the staff. <br />On January 8, 1987, the Planning and Zoning Commission held a <br />public hearing on the proposed ordinance and after making some <br />minor revisions, voted 5-0 to recommend approval by the Board <br />of County Commissioners. <br />ALTERNATIVES & ANALYSIS: <br />The proposed ordinance focuses on restricting potential sources <br />of artificial light with regard to new development and existing <br />development. <br />New Development: <br />The ordinance specifies that all new single family, multiple <br />family, commercial and other structures must comply with the <br />following lighting regulations: <br />1) Floodlights shall be prohibited. Wall mounted light <br />fixtures shall be fitted with hoods so that no light <br />illuminates the beach; <br />2) Pole lighting shall be shielded in such a way that light <br />will be contained within an arc of three (3) to seventy- <br />three (73) degrees on the seaward side of the pole. <br />Outdoor lighting shall be held to the minimum necessary <br />for security and convenience; <br />3) Low profile luminaires shall be used in parking lots and <br />such lighting shall be positioned so that no light illumi- <br />nates the beach; <br />FEB 10 1�� 17 BOOK U�� r� <br />