17-7
Dimensional standards
Uses
Conditional / special use1
Extracted standards
16 individual requirements pulled out of this section’s prose, each with the sentence it came from.
Environmental
- Groundwater testing well required
All energy generation facilities shall install a testing well downstream from the proposed facility on project property.
- Riparian bufferRiparian bufferA strip along a stream or wetland that must be left undisturbed. from perennial watercourses100 ft
Incorporate riparian buffers of at least a minimum of 100 feet from the top-of-bank of all perennial watercourses.
- Soil sampling frequency5 years
Soil samples should continue to be taken and analyzed and submitted to the County every five (5) years after the first year of operation.
Fencing & walls
- Minimum security fence heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first.6 ft
The facility should be enclosed by security fencing not less than six (6) feet in height.
Landscaping & trees
- Landscaping buffer width100 ft
In areas where there is not at least 100' of a native timber buffer remaining on the project parcel, a minimum of a double row of evergreens shall be planted within any required setback and/or buffer area.
Lighting
- Shielded lighting required
Lighting shall be the minimum necessary for safety and/or security purposes and shall use shielded fixtures to minimize off-site glare.
Noise
- Construction hours
All construction activities shall be limited to the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. or sunset, whichever occurs earlier, Monday-Saturday and will be prohibited on Sundays.
Other
- Decommissioning completion time9 months
All decommissioning activities shall be completed within nine (9) months of the due date established hereunder subsection 17-7-S(a) for providing a notice of inactivity to the Zoning Administrator or nine (9) months from the date a notice of inactivity is actually provided to the Zoning Administrator, whichever is sooner.
- Decommissioning surety required
Prior to the issuance of any construction, building, and land disturbing permits for a permitted facility/project, the Permitholders and landowners shall enter into a surety agreement for decommissioning and post surety in a form acceptable to the County Attorney.
- FloodplainFloodplainLand expected to flood at a stated frequency, where building carries extra conditions. analysis required
Each Conditional Use Permit shall include a preliminary floodplain analysis that will identify all existing FEMA designated floodplain areas.
- Inactivity period triggering decommissioning12 months
in the event of inactivity for more than twelve (12) consecutive months, a permitted utility scale solar facility must and shall be decommissioned in accordance with Article 17, Section 17-7.
- Maximum project area300 acresacre43,560 square feet — about the size of an American football field without the end zones.
The maximum project area for any facility, which includes panels and all associated equipment, shall be no more than three hundred (300) acres.
- Pre-blast survey distance1 miles
A pre-blast survey shall be performed to indicate all potential impacts within a minimum of 1 mile from the proposed blasting area.
- Traffic impact analysis required
The Applicant shall submit a proposed construction traffic impact analysis and management mitigation plan to the County Administrator and/or his designee for review and approval as part of the Conditional Use Permit review.
- Viewshed analysis required
Each Conditional Use Permit application shall provide a viewshed analysis.
Signage
- Signage restriction
No signage of any type may be placed on the facility other than notices, warnings, and identification information required by law.
From the ordinance
The maximum project area for any facility, which includes panels and all associated equipment, shall be no more than three hundred (300) acres.