The Suwanee City Council passed an ordinance Tuesday to amend the Architectural Design Standards for regulating outdoor colored lights in commercial areas.
The new ordinance states no exterior building illumination can alter the underlying look, color, and appearance of the original building color as it existed prior to such illumination. All exterior building illumination, including any building up-lighting, down-lighting, wall washing, or other similar exterior lighting, must be a cool white, neutral white, or warm white color and temperature between 2,000 Kelvin and 7,000 Kelvin. No other lighting colors are allowed. In addition, permanent mounted exterior neon or LED lights are not allowed, except when those lights are covered by a translucent or semi-opaque covering to diffuse the source. This lighting may be of any color provided it is only used as an accent.
Lawful illumination of an exterior building that existed prior to May 23 of this year may be continued even though it does not conform to the new ordinance. However, if the building or exterior façade is altered, rebuilt, destroyed or reconstructed the illumination must conform to the new guidelines.
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