Sec. 23-403(c) and (d) and Sec. 23-406(c)
Uses
Permitted by right1
Conditional / special use3
Extracted standards
20 individual requirements pulled out of this section’s prose, each with the sentence it came from.
Design
- Support buildings shall blend with natural setting
The design of support buildings and related structures shall incorporate materials, colors, textures, screening, and landscaping that will blend the facilities to the natural setting and surrounding structures.
Environmental
- Wildlife corridor required
The applicant shall identify an access corridor for wildlife to navigate through the solar facility.
Fencing & walls
- Minimum security fence heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first.7 ft
Solar facilities shall be enclosed by security fencing on the interior of the buffer area (not to be visible from other properties) not less than seven (7) feet in height and topped with razor/barbed wire, as appropriate.
Height
- Maximum heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first. of lowest edge of PV panels10 ft
The maximum height of the lowest edge of the PV panels shall be ten (10) feet as measured from the finished grade when oriented at minimum tilt.
- Maximum heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first. of primary structures and accessoryAccessory useA secondary activity customarily incidental to the main use of the lot — a garage, a home office. buildings15 ft
The maximum height of primary structures and accessory buildings shall be fifteen (15) feet as measured from the finished grade at the base of the structure to its highest point, including appurtenances.
Landscaping & trees
- Ground cover shall be native vegetation
Ground cover on the site shall be native vegetation as determined by the Virginia Department of Conservation and recreation solar site native plant finder
Lighting
- Lighting must be approved
All lighting must be shown on the concept plan or the site plan, or both, and must be approved by the zoning administrator.
Other
- Compliance with building codes
Solar facilities shall be designed and maintained in compliance with standards contained in applicable local, state, and federal building codes and regulations in effect at the time of the permit approval.
- Compliance with DEQ requirements
Solar facilities shall comply with all permitting and other requirements of the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality.
- FAA and SCC compliance required
All facilities must meet or exceed the standards and regulations of the Federal Aviation Administration ("FAA"), State Corporation Commission ("SCC") or equivalent, and any other agency of the local, state or federal government with the authority to regulate such facilities.
- Liability insurance required
The applicant shall provide proof of liability insurance for a solar facility prior to beginning construction of the solar facility.
- Maintenance required
The owner or operator shall maintain the solar facility in good condition.
- Maximum PV panel coverage per project65 pct
The area of PV panel coverage for any single solar facility project may not exceed 65 percent of the total acreage of the site.
- Medium-scale must provide electricity for commercial/industrial use
The facility must provide electricity for use on the site for commercial and industrial applications.
- Medium-scale must provide electricity to the site
The facility must be located on a property to which the electricity generated will be provided directly or via the Commonwealth of Virginia's net metering provision.
- Minimum buffer width100 ft
Solar facilities, including fencing, shall be significantly screened from the ground level view of adjacent properties by a buffer area at least 100 feet wide that shall be landscaped with plant materials consisting of an evergreen and deciduous mix
- Minimum distance to town boundary for utility-scale1 mi
No boundary of any property on which a utility-scale solar facility is located may be located within one mile of any town boundary.
- Minimum setbackSetbackThe distance a building must be held back from a lot line. to property lines with habitable dwellings250 ft
The minimum setback to property lines of parcels with habitable dwellings shall be 250 feet
- Minimum setbackSetbackThe distance a building must be held back from a lot line. to other property lines150 ft
the minimum setback to all other property lines shall be 150 feet
Signage
- Signage prohibitedProhibitedNot allowed in the district at all, short of rezoning or a variance. except required
No signage of any type may be placed on the solar facility other than notices, warnings, and identification information required by law or as approved by the zoning administrator.
From the ordinance
Medium-scale solar facilities are permitted in industrial districts only with the issuance of a conditional use permit on properties and projects meeting all of the following requirements: ... Cooperative-scale and utility-scale facilities are permitted in agricultural districts and industrial districts only with the issuance of a conditional use permit (CUP). ...