Lighting Regulations in Ashville, Ohio: Preserving Small-Town Charm While Ensuring Safety

Introduction

Nestled just 22 miles south of Columbus, the village of Ashville, Ohio stands as a testament to small-town America's enduring charm. Founded in 1882, this historic community has carefully maintained its distinctive character while accommodating modern needs. Home to Ohio's Small Town Museum (housed in the former Rocky Dreamland Theatre) and the world's oldest working traffic light, Ashville demonstrates a commitment to preserving its heritage.

This balance between historical preservation and practical necessity extends to the village's approach to lighting regulations. Understanding these regulations helps property owners contribute to the community's aesthetic goals while ensuring safety and functionality.

Quick Reference Guide: Key Lighting Requirements

Before diving into specifics, here's a quick overview of Ashville's most important lighting regulations:

• Residential Conversions & Conditional Uses: Limited to lighting types customarily found in residential neighborhoods and arranged not to shine on adjacent properties
• Commercial Areas: Fixtures must be shielded to prevent direct shine onto adjacent residential properties
• Signs: Illumination must be from concealed or indirect sources and cannot flash, blink, or fluctuate
• Off-Street Parking: Lighting must reflect away from adjoining residential premises
• Swimming Pools: Light beams must be confined to the property
• Safety Lighting: Required for excavations and hazards during nighttime

General Safety Lighting Requirements

Hazard Protection

Safety is a primary concern in Ashville's lighting regulations. The village code (Section 521.03) specifically requires:

• Nighttime Illumination: Excavations on public or private property must be "adequately protected by suitable barricades and guarded by warning devices or lights at night"
• Light Preservation: No person shall "destroy, remove, damage or extinguish any barricade or warning light" placed for public protection

Maintenance Access

Proper lighting is also required for utility access:

• Section 935.09(c) mandates "adequate natural or artificial lighting" for maintenance, inspection, and testing of backflow prevention devices

District-Specific Lighting Regulations

Ashville's zoning code includes specific lighting requirements tailored to different districts, reflecting the village's commitment to appropriate lighting based on land use.

General Business (GB) District

• Direction Requirements: Lighting fixtures must be "arranged, shielded and directed so as to not shine directly on any adjacent residential property"

Residential Conversions in Village Center (VC) District

For existing single-family residences converted to other permitted uses:

• Fixture Types: Lighting "shall be limited to those types customarily found in residential neighborhoods"
• Light Direction: Fixtures must be "arranged so as not to shine on adjacent properties"
• Signage Restrictions: "Exterior signage shall not be internally illuminated"

Limited Industrial District

• Impact Limitation: Must operate free from "light, glare" at levels exceeding the average on adjacent streets and properties

Conditional Uses (All Districts)

• Nuisance Prevention: "Conditional uses shall not create a nuisance from noise, lighting, smoke or odor"
• Residential Character: "Lighting shall be limited to those types customarily found in residential neighborhoods"
• Direction Control: Lights must be "arranged so as to not shine on adjacent properties"
• Signage Illumination: "No signs shall be internally illuminated"

Special Use Lighting Requirements

Off-Street Parking Areas

Section 1169 provides specific requirements for parking area illumination:

• Direction Control: "Any lighting used to illuminate any off-street parking area shall be so arranged as to reflect light away from any adjoining premises in any zoning district where residences are a permitted use"
• Traffic Safety: Lighting must be "so arranged as to not interfere with traffic on any adjoining street or to be confused with any traffic control lighting"

Swimming Pool Lighting

• Beam Containment: "All lights used for the illumination of the swimming pool and adjacent areas shall be designed, located and installed so as to confine the direct beams thereof to the lot or parcel on which the pool is located"

Home Occupations

• Glare Prevention: "No equipment or process shall be used which creates noise, vibration, glare, fumes, odors, or electrical interference detectable to normal senses off the lot"

Sign Illumination Standards

Ashville maintains specific requirements for sign illumination to ensure safety and aesthetic harmony:

General Requirements

• Light Source: "Illumination shall be from a concealed or indirect light source"
• Consistency: Lighting "shall not flash, blink, fluctuate in intensity, travel, move or in any manner fail to provide constant illumination"
• Safety: Illumination must not "create a hazard or visibility problem or interfere with or impair vehicular traffic"
• Intensity: "The level of illumination emitted from a sign shall not be of an intensity to constitute a demonstrable safety hazard to vehicular movement on any street"
• Shielding: "Illuminated signs shall be constructed and maintained so that the source of illumination is shielded or otherwise prevented from beaming directly onto adjacent properties or streets"

Prohibited Illumination

Certain signs are specifically prohibited from being illuminated:

• Commemorative plaques and historical markers (if larger than nine square feet)
• Political signs concerning candidates or public issues
• Some temporary signs

Permitted Illumination

• Holiday decorative signs "may be of any illumination" provided they don't create safety or visibility hazards

Street Lighting for New Developments

Ashville has established clear requirements for street lighting in new subdivisions:

When Required

• Mandatory Installation: Street lights are required for all subdivisions where:
• The total number of residential lots exceeds ten (10), OR
• The lots average one hundred (100) feet or less of frontage

Technical Standards

• Illumination Quality: Must be uniform and follow recommendations of the current Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) Handbook
• Fixture Selection: Type of street light fixtures must be "consistent with the scale and character of the proposed subdivision"
• Spacing: Must be in accordance with the "City of Columbus Street Lighting Specifications"

Financial Responsibility

• Developer Costs: The Owner/Developer must "provide and pay the entire cost of street lighting including poles, underground conduits and appurtenances"

Supporting Ashville's Lighting Vision

As a Northeast Ohio manufacturer with roots dating back to 1918, Bock Lighting understands the unique balance that communities like Ashville strive to maintain between preserving their historical character and ensuring modern functionality.

Bock Lighting appreciates Ashville's commitment to maintaining its small-town charm while providing appropriate lighting for safety and usability. Our understanding of regional architectural styles and lighting needs allows us to serve as a resource for property owners seeking to comply with local regulations.

We recognize that in communities with rich historical character like Ashville, lighting plays a crucial role in maintaining the village's aesthetic while providing necessary illumination. Our commitment to sustainable and responsible lighting practices aligns with Ashville's vision of balancing preservation with practical needs.

Conclusion: Lighting that Honors Ashville's Character

Ashville's lighting regulations reflect the village's dedication to preserving its small-town charm while ensuring safety and functionality. By focusing on directing light appropriately, minimizing glare and light trespass, and maintaining a residential character in sensitive areas, these regulations help maintain the unique atmosphere that makes Ashville special.

Property owners can contribute to this vision by understanding and following these guidelines, ensuring that lighting enhances both safety and the village's distinctive character. By thoughtfully implementing lighting that respects both neighbors and community standards, residents and businesses help preserve Ashville's historical integrity for generations to come.

While considering lighting for your property, remember that these regulations aren't just about compliance—they're about contributing to the unique small-town atmosphere that makes Ashville a special place to live, work, and visit.