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• surrounding conservation lands. Such concerns relate to effects upon surrounding properties. Therefore staff's analysis is that the Commission did not fail to consider adequately the effects on surrounding properties. (4) Did the Planning and Zoning Commission fail to evaluate the application with respect to the comprehensive plan and land development regulations of Indian River County? The light pollution concerns of some of the Planning and Zoning Commission members appears to have been based on a perceived conflict between conservation uses and nighttime lighting. However, the CON -1 district specifically and the LDRs generally do not prohibit such lighting. Such lighting in CON -1 areas can be necessary for public access and recreation uses. Examples of such circumstances include lighting of boat ramps for night and early morning use or lighting of camping areas. As detailed in attachment #3. the gun range was originally approved as a "public park ' administrative permit use -under the site's 1998 A-1 (Agriculture) zoning. The applicable public park specific use criteria address lighting in section 971.40(7)(d)2., as follows: tel Any recreational use equipped with Lighting to allow the use of the facility after sunset shall be designed such that: All lights are shielded from shining into residentially designated adjacent properties; and b. Hours of operation and/or special design techniques are used to mitigate noise impacts, especially during evening and nighttime hours." The site is not located near any residentially designated properties. thus criterion 2.a is met. The Planning and Zoning Commission staff report on the county's extended hours request (attachment #1) provided details on criterion 2.b. in regard to lighting design and hours of operation limitations. Essentially. all range lighting is proposed to be shielded and focused directly on target areas with little spill over. In addition proposed site lighting (street and parking lot lighting) will be the minimum needed to provide adequate traffic safety for the proposed nighttime hours of operation. All lighting can be turned off at 9:00 p.m The Commission decision appears to have been based on criteria 2a. and 2b. as referenced above. However those criteria provide for regulating rather than prohibiting nighttime lighting. In staffs opinion, the proposed lighting design and limited hours of operation are sufficient to meet criteria 2a and 2b. The Commission appears to have applied a more stringent lighting standard than is provided for in the county LDRs. Thus. the outright prohibition of nighttime lighting that resulted from the Commissions decision was not based in the LDRs. Therefore. the Planning and Zoning Commission did fail to properly evaluate the request with respect to the county's (LDRs). _ March 20, 2001 St's 1 188