Sec. 34-910
Dimensional standards
Lot
- Minimum lot areaMinimum lot areaThe smallest parcel on which the district allows anything to be built.
- 4,356,000 sq ftsq ftSquare feet. An acre is 43,560 sq ft; a typical suburban lot is 7,000–10,000. (100 acacre43,560 square feet — about the size of an American football field without the end zones.)
Uses
Conditional / special use3
Extracted standards
20 individual requirements pulled out of this section’s prose, each with the sentence it came from.
Design
- Support building design
The design of support buildings and related structures shall use materials, colors, textures, screening, and landscaping that will blend the facilities to the natural setting and surrounding structures.
Environmental
- Minimum herbicide setbackSetbackThe distance a building must be held back from a lot line. from groundwater well150 ft
No herbicides shall be used within 150 feet of the location of an approved ground water well.
- Wildlife corridors
The applicant shall identify access corridors for wildlife to navigate through and across 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.6 ft
The facilities shall be enclosed by security fencing not less than six feet in height and topped with barbed wire, as appropriate.
Landscaping & trees
- Buffer maintenance
The buffer shall be maintained for the life of the facility.
- Ground cover native vegetation
Ground cover on the site shall be native vegetation and maintained in accordance with the landscaping plan.
- Minimum buffer width (when using wetlands/woodlands)150 ft
The wetlands or woodlands shall be permanently protected as a designated buffer and the overall buffer shall measure at least 150 feet.
- Minimum landscaped strip width for new plantings50 ft
new plantings shall be provided in a landscaped strip at least 50 feet wide.
Lighting
- Lighting direction
Lighting fixtures as approved by the county 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.
Noise
- Noise compliance
At all times, the solar facility shall comply with the county's noise regulations set forth in chapter 20, article III.
Other
- Battery inspection frequency
The solar facility operator or owner shall conduct regular on-site inspections of the battery units and submit a written report to the zoning administrator on their condition, at least once every six months.
- Battery safety standards
Battery energy storage facilities shall be constructed, maintained, and operated in accordance with national industry standards.
- Decommissioning plan
The applicant will submit a final decommissioning and reclamation plan in accordance with these regulations.
- Decommissioning timeline12 months
The site shall be graded and re-seeded or replanted within 12 months of removal of solar facilities.
- Liability insurance
The applicant shall provide proof of adequate liability insurance for a solar facility prior to beginning construction.
- Minimum vehicular access setbackSetbackThe distance a building must be held back from a lot line. from dwelling50 ft
Vehicular access to the site shall be a minimum of 50 feet from the nearest dwelling located on adjacent property.
- Minimum staging distance from residential dwelling200 ft
No material and equipment laydown area, construction staging area, or construction trailer shall be located within 200 feet of any property containing a residential dwelling.
- Post driving hours
Driving of posts shall be limited to 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Driving of posts shall be prohibited on state and federal holidays.
- Screening requirement
The facilities, including security fencing that is not ornamental, shall be screened from the ground-level view of adjacent properties or a public street in the buffer zone.
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 100 acres or more. The percent of acreage coverage shall not exceed 65 percent.