Section 36.404 (Solar energy, large-scale, power purchase agreement, and utility-scale)

Other

• Maximum area for utility-scale500 acresacre43,560 square feet — about the size of an American football field without the end zones.

  The minimum area of a utility-scale solar energy facility shall be two (2) acres, and the maximum area shall be less than 500 acres, including the required open space.

• Maximum area for large-scale or PPA50 acresacre43,560 square feet — about the size of an American football field without the end zones.

  The maximum area of a large-scale solar energy facility or PPA solar energy facility shall be less than 50 contiguous acres.

• Maximum heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first. of principal 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 principal buildings and accessory buildings shall be 15 feet as measured from the finished grade at the base of the structure to its highest point, including appurtenances.

• Maximum distance from electric transmission lines1 miles

  Utility-scale solar facilities shall be within one mile of electric transmission lines and any tie lines shall be located and buffered to block visibility from highways.

• Maximum site gradingGrading (cut & fill)Reshaping land by removing earth (cut) or adding it (fill), often capped by volume.50 pct

  PV solar panels and any associated equipment shall not be located on slopes 10 percent or greater and no site shall be graded more than 50 percent of the site surface area.

• 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 photovoltaic panels shall be 10 feet as measured from the finished grade.

• Maximum slope for PV panels10 pct

  PV solar panels and any associated equipment shall not be located on slopes 10 percent or greater and no site shall be graded more than 50 percent of the site surface area.

• Minimum area for utility-scale2 acresacre43,560 square feet — about the size of an American football field without the end zones.

  The minimum area of a utility-scale solar energy facility shall be two (2) acres, and the maximum area shall be less than 500 acres, including the required open space.

• Minimum distance from Business and Employment districtZoning districtA mapped area with one set of rules, identified by a code like R-1 or B-2., Deferred Development Service DistrictZoning districtA mapped area with one set of rules, identified by a code like R-1 or B-2., Rural Residential Development1 miles

  Unless on a brownfield or capped landfill, facilities shall be located at least one mile from a Business and Employment district, a Deferred Development Service District, and Rural Residential Development as depicted on the Future Land Use Map.

• Minimum distance from Rappahannock River1 miles

  Utility-scale solar facilities shall be located a minimum of 1 mile outside the banks of the Rappahannock River.

• Minimum distance from Rural Service Centers1 miles

  Unless on a brownfield or capped landfill, facilities shall be located at least one mile from identified Rural Service Centers as depicted on the Future Land Use Map.

• Minimum distance from town boundary3 miles

  Utility-scale solar energy facility shall be located at least three miles from a town boundary.

• Minimum setbackSetbackThe distance a building must be held back from a lot line. for battery storage from dwelling500 ft

  The minimum setback for any battery storage units shall be 500 feet from any existing dwelling.

• Minimum setbackSetbackThe distance a building must be held back from a lot line. from existing dwellings (large-scale/PPA)150 ft

  Facilities shall setback a minimum of 150 feet from any existing dwellings.

• Minimum setbackSetbackThe distance a building must be held back from a lot line. from property lines (utility-scale)150 ft

  The minimum setback for utility-scale solar facilities to property lines shall be 150 feet.

• Minimum setbackSetbackThe distance a building must be held back from a lot line. from property lines (large-scale/PPA)50 ft

  The minimum setback for large-scale solar and PPA solar facilities to property lines shall be in accordance with the setback requirements for that zoning district or 50 feet, whichever is greater.

• Wetlands, waterways, floodplains avoided

  Wetlands, waterways, and floodplains shall be avoided.