§ 325-34.2
Dimensional standards
Height & bulk
Servicing
- Applies near
- high-voltage transmission line, village development area
- Applies within
- 5,280 ft
- Geographic extent
- Utility-scale solar must be within 1 mile of a high-voltage transmission line and not within 1 mile of a village development area.
Uses
Conditional / special use1
Extracted standards
24 individual requirements pulled out of this section’s prose, each with the sentence it came from.
Density
- Maximum percentage of land area for utility-scale solar in 5-mile radius3 pct
No more than 3% of the land area in any given five-mile radius shall be approved for use as the project area for utility-scale solar energy systems.
Fencing & walls
- Minimum opacity of screening fence75 pct
Fencing intended for screening shall be at least 75% visually solid
Height
- Maximum heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first. of photovoltaic panels15 ft
The maximum height of the highest edge of photovoltaic panels shall not exceed 15 feet as measured from the finished grade.
- Maximum heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first. of other facility structures15 ft
The maximum height of other facility structures shall not exceed 15 feet.
Lighting
- Lighting direction
All construction lighting shall be downward facing.
Noise
- Maximum noise level at property line50 dbA
noise levels measured at the property line shall not exceed 50 dbA
Other
- Berm required around battery storage
All battery storage facilities shall be completely surrounded by a berm
- Berm heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first. above grade4 ft
four to six feet above the adjacent grade
- Berm side slope ratio3 ratio
Berms shall generally be constructed with a 3:1 side slope to rise ratio
- Berm top width3 ft
with a three-foot-wide top
- Decommissioning cost guarantee required
The full estimated decommissioning cost shall be guaranteed by escrow at a federally insured financial institution, irrevocable letter of credit, or surety bond before a building permit is issued
- Decommissioning plan required
Applications for utility-scale solar energy systems shall include a decommissioning plan
- Time to complete decommissioning12 months
The facility owner/operator shall have 12 months to complete decommissioning of the solar energy system.
- Maximum distance from high-voltage transmission line5,280 ft
Utility-scale solar energy systems shall be located within one mile of a high-voltage transmission line (HVTL).
- Minimum setbackSetbackThe distance a building must be held back from a lot line. for battery storage from public roads and property lines5,000 ft
All battery storage facilities shall maintain a minimum of 5,000-foot setback from all public roads and property lines
- Reduced setbackSetbackThe distance a building must be held back from a lot line. for battery storage via SEP1,000 ft
the Board of Supervisors may approve through the special exception permit conditions that allow a battery storage facility to locate closer than 5,000 feet, but no closer than 1,000 feet from public roads and property lines
- Minimum buffer width when using existing wetlands/woodlands150 ft
The wetlands or woodlands shall be permanently protected as a designated buffer and the overall buffer shall measure at least 150 feet.
- Minimum distance from village development area5,280 ft
No utility-scale solar energy system shall be located within one mile of a village development area.
- Minimum setbackSetbackThe distance a building must be held back from a lot line. from property lines and public rights-of-way500 ft
Generally, all solar energy facilities shall be located a minimum of 500 feet to 1,000 feet from adjoining property lines and public rights-of-way.
- Minimum setbackSetbackThe distance a building must be held back from a lot line. from occupied residential dwelling1,000 ft
No utility-scale solar energy facilities shall be installed within 1,000 feet of any residential dwelling that is occupied at the time the special exception permit is approved.
- Minimum width of vegetative screening strip50 ft
In the event existing vegetation or landforms providing the screening are inadequate or disturbed, new plantings shall be provided in a landscaped strip at least 50 feet wide.
- HeightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first. of screening trees at planting5 ft
Trees intended for screening shall consist of a combination of evergreen and deciduous trees that are five to six feet in height at time of planting.
- Spacing of screening trees15 ft
A triple row of trees shall be placed on average at 15 feet on center.
Signage
- Warning signage required
Appropriate warning signage and a 911 address sign shall be posted in a clearly visible manner.
From the ordinance
Utility-scale solar energy systems shall be considered as a principal use. ... No utility-scale solar energy system shall be located within one mile of a village development area. Utility-scale solar energy systems shall be located within one mile of a high-voltage transmission line (HVTL).