I?m looking for some advice or help on a State of Michigan plan review I got back. This is a high school renovation that began this summer. The first phase of the project was a new football field and parking lot. The plan review by the State was accepted with only minor comments. A bulletin was later issued revising some wiring and mistyped text. This bulletin was rejected by the State. The reason was that they want a set of signed and sealed plans showing that there is zero light at the property line and streets. I contacted the reviewer and asked for the Code section that this is required in. His response was that this is a State Board of Education requirement for being friendly neighbors. When I asked for a copy of this requirement he said that there is no written requirement and that they were just told to do this by the Board of Education. I expressed my concern that there is nothing written about this and that they could change their requirements at any time and without notice. He agreed but said that I still need to comply with the zero light level requirement. I then asked him what the definition of zero was. Is it 0 fc, 0.0 fc, or 0.00000 fc. Technically, if I can see a source of light at the property line then the light level is greater than zero and the project would be non-compliant. He just told me to submit and if the calculations say zero then he would accept it. Even when I told him my concerns about lighting the drives so that cars pulling out into the streets would be seen he still said that there needs to be zero light at the street.
I have two concerns about this. First, the original plan review was approved and the project has been built. To come back now and say we have to change something that was originally approved is crazy. Second, how can the State be enforcing unwritten rules? If someone is injured due to lack of lighting I might be held liable because the Board of Education could claim they?ve never had this zero light level requirement since nothing is written. Also to say that a football field must have zero spill light is impossible. Any advice would be appreciated.
I have two concerns about this. First, the original plan review was approved and the project has been built. To come back now and say we have to change something that was originally approved is crazy. Second, how can the State be enforcing unwritten rules? If someone is injured due to lack of lighting I might be held liable because the Board of Education could claim they?ve never had this zero light level requirement since nothing is written. Also to say that a football field must have zero spill light is impossible. Any advice would be appreciated.
