Sec. 53-155
Dimensional standards
Density
Height & bulk
Servicing
- Geographic extent
- County-wide; applies to all solar energy facilities
Uses
Conditional / special use2
Extracted standards
27 individual requirements pulled out of this section’s prose, each with the sentence it came from.
Fencing & walls
- Fence type
chain link security fencing ... equipped with an appropriate anticlimbing device such as strands of barbed wire on top of the fence
- Minimum fence heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first.6 ft
The project area shall be enclosed by chain link security fencing not less than six feet in height
Landscaping & trees
- Maximum spacing between buffer rows15 ft
The rows shall be no more than 15 feet apart.
- Minimum rows of staggered trees4 rows
an installed landscaped strip consisting of a minimum of four rows of staggered trees and other vegetation
- Minimum expected growth heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first.10 ft
and that are reasonably expected to grow to a minimum height of ten feet within three years.
- Minimum planting heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first.6.5 ft
This buffer must be made up of plant materials at least six and one-half feet tall at the time of planting
- Minimum vegetative buffer width75 ft
The buffer shall consist of a landscaped strip at least 75 feet wide
Other
- Minimum distance from airport1 mi
Large scale solar energy facilities shall not be located within one mile of an airport unless ...
- Community meeting required
A public meeting shall be held prior to the public hearing with the planning commission
- Decommissioning plan update frequency5 years
the update shall be no more frequently than once every five years and no less frequently than once every ten years.
- Decommissioning plan update maximum frequency10 years
the update shall be no more frequently than once every five years and no less frequently than once every ten years.
- Glint and glare study required
A glint and glare study that demonstrates either that the panels will be sited, designed, and installed to eliminate glint and glare effects ...
- Maximum density of community/shared solar in 5-mile radius0.5 pct
no more than one-half percent of the land in a five-mile radius of the center of any proposed new community/shared solar energy facility may be approved
- Maximum density of large scale solar in 5-mile radius3 pct
no more than three percent of the land in a five-mile radius of the center of any proposed new large scale solar energy facility may be approved
- Maximum heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first. of ground-mounted solar20 ft
Ground-mounted solar energy generation facilities shall not exceed a height of 20 feet
- Maximum increased setbackSetbackThe distance a building must be held back from a lot line.800 ft
Increased setbacks up to 800 feet and additional buffering may be included in the conditions for a particular permit on a case by case basis.
- No construction on Sunday
There shall be no construction operations on Sunday, except in the case of an emergency.
- Prime farmland preservation10 pct
If no more than ten percent of the site is prime farmland, this consideration will be waived
- SetbackSetbackThe distance a building must be held back from a lot line. from main buildings on adjoining parcels150 ft
The project area shall be set back a distance of at least 150 feet from all public rights-of-way and main buildings on adjoining parcels
- SetbackSetbackThe distance a building must be held back from a lot line. from adjacent property lines150 ft
and a distance of at least 150 feet from adjacent property lines.
- SetbackSetbackThe distance a building must be held back from a lot line. from public rights-of-way150 ft
The project area shall be set back a distance of at least 150 feet from all public rights-of-way and main buildings on adjoining parcels
- Site plan performance bond per megawatt100,000 dollars
The amount of the site plan performance bond shall be $100,000.00 per megawatt.
- Soil testing frequency5 years
Testing shall be conducted prior to the issuance of a land disturbance permit and every five years thereafter.
- Soil testing locations per 100 acresacre43,560 square feet — about the size of an American football field without the end zones.3 locations
Testing shall be conducted in no less than three locations for each 100 acres of project area.
- Water testing frequency (initial)1 years
The owner or operator shall test annually for the first five years after commercial operation commences
- Water testing frequency (subsequent)3 years
and every three years thereafter.
- Water testing wells per 100 acresacre43,560 square feet — about the size of an American football field without the end zones.1 wells
There shall be one well for each 100 acres of project area.
From the ordinance
A conditional use permit is required for each large scale and community/shared solar energy facility proposed to be constructed, installed, or operated in the county.