Sec. 24.1-274

Uses

Extracted standards

7 individual requirements pulled out of this section’s prose, each with the sentence it came from.

From the ordinance

The following requirements and performance standards shall apply to all accessory small wind energy systems: (a) Small wind energy systems meeting the height limitations set forth in section 24.1-231(a)(1) shall be subject to administrative review and approval by the zoning administrator, and shall be approved if meeting all requirements of this section. Any small wind energy system in excess of those height allowances shall be subject to review and approval pursuant to the special use permit procedures and requirements set forth in section 24.1-115 of this chapter. (b) Every application for a small wind energy system shall be accompanied by scaled elevation drawings of the proposed system, including colors and specifications, and certification from a licensed professional engineer that the support structure of the system will have the structural integrity to carry the weight and wind loads of the small wind energy system. (c) Small wind energy systems shall not be permitted in the YVA zoning district. (d) The height of any small wind energy system shall be measured from ground level to the highest point of the turbine rotor at its highest elevation. (e) The minimum setback of any small wind energy system shall be equal to the height of the system. Guy wire anchors shall not be permitted in any front or side yard. (f) The minimum distance between the ground and any protruding blades utilized on a small wind energy system, as measured at the lowest point of the arc of the blades, shall be ten feet (10'). (g) Unless otherwise provided for by the Board of Supervisors through the approval of a special use permit, small wind energy systems shall be permitted only in a rear yard. (h) Other than safety and warning signs, no signage, flags, streamers, or decorative items shall be attached or affixed to any component of the system. (i) Turbines and support structures shall be predominantly white, off-white, gray, or a similar nonobtrusive color. (j) No portion of a small wind energy system shall be illuminated unless required by the Federal Aviation Administration. (k) All small wind energy systems and the construction and installation thereof shall conform to the applicable requirements of the Uniform Statewide Building Code. (l) Building permit applications for small wind energy systems shall be accompanied by a line drawing of the electrical components in sufficient detail to allow for a determination that the manner of installation conforms to the National Electrical Code. (m) Small wind energy systems shall be operated in compliance with the provisions of Section 16-19, Unnecessary or excessive noise, of the York County Code. (n) The applicant shall provide evidence that the proposed height of the small wind energy system tower does not exceed the height recommended by the manufacturer or distributor of the system. (o) The applicant shall provide evidence in writing that the provider of electric utility service to the site has been informed of the applicant's intent to install an interconnected customer-owned electricity generator, unless the applicant intends, and so states on the application, that the system will not be connected to the electricity grid. (p) In order to prevent unauthorized climbing, the supporting tower shall be enclosed with a six-foot tall privacy fence or the base of the tower shall not be climbable for a distance of ten (10) feet. (q) The small wind energy system's generators and alternators shall be constructed so as to prevent the emission of radio and television signals and shall comply with the provisions of Section 47 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 15 and subsequent revisions governing said emissions. (r) Any small wind energy system found to be unsafe by the building official shall be repaired by the owner to meet applicable federal, state, and local safety standards or removed within six months. If use of any small wind energy system ceases for a continuous period of one year, the County shall notify the owner of the property on which the system is located by certified mail that a removal notice is forthcoming. Within thirty (30) days of such notification, the landowner shall either provide evidence that the system has been in operation or set forth reasons for the operational difficulty and the corrective measures being taken or proposed to restore operability. The landowner shall either take corrective action or dismantle and remove the system within six (6) months thereafter. (s) The installation and design of the system shall conform to applicable industry standards, including those of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).