Lighting Regulations in Blue Ash, Ohio: Balancing History and Modern Development

Blue Ash, a vibrant suburban community within the Greater Cincinnati metropolitan area, has carefully crafted lighting regulations that reflect its unique journey from rural beginnings to a thriving modern city. These regulations aim to preserve the community's character while ensuring safety and functionality in public and private spaces.

Quick Reference Guide

• Street Lighting Requirements:
• Residential collector streets: Minimum 0.6 footcandles
• Residential local streets: Minimum 0.4 footcandles
• Downtown and SP district collector streets: Minimum 1.2 footcandles
• BAN and BAS district collector streets: Minimum 0.9 footcandles
• Standard installation: 7,000-9,500 lumen lamps on poles up to 28 feet high
• Industrial areas: 50,000 lumen lamps placed approximately every 180 feet
• Parking and Walkway Lighting:
• Minimum 1.0 footcandle required throughout parking areas and walkways
• Maximum 0.2 footcandle light spillage onto adjacent residential properties
• Maximum 10 footcandles for any exterior lighting
• Underground cable and served poles required
• Light Placement and Design:
• Fixtures must minimize glare through appropriate luminaires
• Poles must not create obstacles for pedestrians or hazards for vehicles
• Breakaway-type pole mountings required in potential hazard areas

Historical Context: Blue Ash's Lighting Vision

Blue Ash's approach to lighting reflects its evolution from a rural farming community in the 1800s to the vibrant suburban city it is today. The city's incorporation in 1955 and its subsequent growth have shaped its urban development policies.

Despite its modest geographic footprint of just 7 square miles, Blue Ash has become a hub for international business while maintaining its community character. The city's lighting regulations embody this balance between progress and preservation.

From Railway Town to Modern Suburb

With roots dating back to the arrival of the Cincinnati, Lebanon & Northern Railway in the 1880s, Blue Ash has always valued connectivity while preserving its community feel. The lighting standards in place today reflect this tradition – providing necessary illumination for safety while respecting the aesthetic and historical character of different neighborhoods.

Street Lighting Requirements

Street lighting in Blue Ash is carefully regulated to ensure both safety and aesthetic consistency throughout the city.

Standard Specifications

• Street lights must be installed when constructing new streets
• Typical installation requires:
• 7,000-9,500 lumen underground-served lamps
• Embedded aluminum poles (or approved equivalent material)
• Maximum 28-foot height for standard poles
• Placement approximately every 240-300 feet

District-Specific Requirements

Different areas of Blue Ash have specific minimum lighting levels to match their character and usage:

• Residential Districts:
• Collector Streets: 0.6 footcandles minimum
• Local Streets: 0.4 footcandles minimum
• Downtown and SP Districts:
• Collector Streets: 1.2 footcandles minimum
• Local Streets: 0.9 footcandles minimum
• BAN and BAS Districts:
• Collector Streets: 0.9 footcandles minimum
• Local Streets: 0.6 footcandles minimum

Industrial Areas

Industrial sections of Blue Ash require more substantial lighting:

• 50,000 lumen lamps
• Placement approximately every 180 feet

Approval Process

All street lighting plans must be submitted to the City for review and approval, with both Cinergy (now Duke Energy) and the City of Blue Ash needing to grant approval before installation.

Parking and Walkway Lighting Standards

Blue Ash has established clear standards for lighting in parking areas and pedestrian walkways to ensure safety while preventing light pollution.

Illumination Requirements

• All parking areas and walkways must maintain a minimum illumination of 1.0 footcandle
• No exterior lighting may exceed 10 footcandles in intensity
• Light spillage onto adjacent single-family residential areas must not exceed 0.2 footcandle

Technical Specifications

• All lighting must be served with underground cable and underground served poles
• Areas with higher safety concerns (intersections, pedestrian crossings, curves, hills) require higher illumination levels

Design and Safety Considerations

Pole Placement and Design

• Poles must be placed where they don't create obstacles for pedestrians
• In locations where poles could be struck by vehicles, breakaway-type pole mountings should be used
• Placement, height, and design should allow for easy access and replacement of lamps and luminaires

Tree Maintenance

Property owners must ensure that tree branches near public lamps are trimmed to avoid obstructing light from reaching streets and sidewalks.

Construction Site Safety

Warning lights are required at night for construction sites, excavations, wells, cesspools, or structures under construction to prevent potential dangers.

Light Trespass and Glare Control

Blue Ash regulations specifically address controlling unwanted light spillage and glare.

Types of Fixtures

The code distinguishes between two types of lighting fixtures:

• Cutoff lights: Fixtures designed to ensure no light is directly emitted above a horizontal line parallel to the ground
• Non-cutoff lights: Fixtures that allow light to be directly emitted above a horizontal line parallel to the ground

Glare Reduction

Glare from light fixtures must be minimized through appropriate luminaires that direct light in a manner that won't:

• Interfere with drivers' views
• Negatively impact adjacent property owners

Development Applications and Approval Process

Required Documentation

When submitting applications for development in Blue Ash, lighting plans must include:

• Fixture types and sizes
• A detailed photometric plan
• Compliance with all applicable regulations

Evaluation Criteria

The Board of Site Arrangement considers several lighting-related factors:

• Effect of proposed lighting on access to adjacent properties
• Impact of night lighting in terms of intensity, duration, and frequency
• How lighting affects the neighborhood character

Supporting Blue Ash's Lighting Vision

As a Northeast Ohio manufacturer with roots dating back to 1918, Bock Lighting understands the unique balance Blue Ash strives to maintain between historical character and modern development needs.

Community Partnership

Bock Lighting shares Blue Ash's commitment to preserving community character while ensuring modern functionality. With our understanding of regional architectural styles and lighting needs, we can help property owners navigate lighting regulations while maintaining the city's distinctive atmosphere.

Educational Resources

Rather than simply providing products, Bock Lighting serves as an educational resource to help community members understand and implement lighting best practices that align with Blue Ash's vision for thoughtful development and historical preservation.

Conclusion

Blue Ash's lighting regulations reflect its journey from rural beginnings to a thriving suburban community. By establishing clear standards for illumination levels, fixture design, and light control, these regulations help maintain the city's distinctive character while ensuring safety and functionality.

For property owners, understanding these requirements is essential when planning new construction or modifications. By following these guidelines, residents and businesses contribute to Blue Ash's continued success as a community that respects its historical roots while embracing thoughtful development.