Dimensional standards
Lot
Height & bulk
Servicing
- Geographic extent
- Utility-scale solar facilities subject to location standards including minimum 2 acresacre43,560 square feet — about the size of an American football field without the end zones., maximum 200 acresacre43,560 square feet — about the size of an American football field without the end zones., and not within 1 mile of another such facility unless combined acreage <400 acresacre43,560 square feet — about the size of an American football field without the end zones..
Extracted standards
18 individual requirements pulled out of this section’s prose, each with the sentence it came from.
Grading
- Maximum site gradingGrading (cut & fill)Reshaping land by removing earth (cut) or adding it (fill), often capped by volume.50 pct
no site shall be graded more than 50 percent of the site surface area
Height
- Maximum heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first. of lowest edge of panels10 ft
The maximum height of the lowest edge of the photovoltaic panels shall be ten 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 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 15 feet as measured from the finished grade at the base of the structure to its highest point, including appurtenances.
Lighting
- Lighting direction
Lighting fixtures as approved by the town shall be the minimum necessary for safety and/or security purposes to protect the night sky by facing downward and to minimize off-site glare.
Other
- Abandonment period12 months
Solar facilities which have reached the end of their useful life or have not been in active and continuous service for a period of one year shall be removed at the owner's or operator's expense
- Buffer zone width100 ft
The facilities, including fencing, shall be significantly screened from the ground-level view of adjacent properties by a buffer zone at least 100 feet wide that shall be landscaped with plant materials consisting of an evergreen and deciduous mix
- Escrow account required
The estimated cost of decommissioning shall be guaranteed by the deposit of funds in an amount equal to the estimated cost in an escrow account at a federally insured financial institution approved by the town.
- Native ground cover
Ground cover on the site shall be native vegetation include pollinators and be maintained in accordance with the submitted Landscaping Maintenance Plan.
- Maximum facility area200 acresacre43,560 square feet — about the size of an American football field without the end zones.
the maximum area shall be less than 200 acres
- Maximum slope for placement10 pct
PV solar panels and any associated equipment shall not be located on slopes ten percent or greater
- Minimum facility area2 acresacre43,560 square feet — about the size of an American football field without the end zones.
The minimum area of a utility-scale solar facility shall be two acres
- Site restoration timeframe12 months
The site shall be re-graded and re-seeded or replanted within 12 months of removal of solar facilities.
- Security fence heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first.7 ft
The facilities shall be enclosed by security fencing on the interior of the buffer area (not to be seen by other properties) not less than seven feet in height.
- Separation from other utility-scale solar1 miles
No utility-scale solar facility shall be located within one mile of another existing or permitted utility-scale solar facility unless the combined acreage coverage is less than 400 acres.
- Wildlife corridor
The applicant shall identify at least one access corridor for wildlife to navigate through the solar facility.
Setback
- SetbackSetbackThe distance a building must be held back from a lot line. to parcels with dwellings200 ft
The minimum setback to property lines of parcels with dwellings shall be 200 feet.
- 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 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 minimum area of a utility-scale solar facility shall be two acres, and the maximum area shall be less than 200 acres. No utility-scale solar facility shall be located within one mile of another existing or permitted utility-scale solar facility unless the combined acreage coverage is less than 400 acres.