Solar Energy

The town's bylaws include a section on Solar Energy Systems. The section defines a small-scale ground-mounted photovoltaic installation, a large-scale ground-mounted photovoltaic installation, rated nameplate capacity, solar photovoltaic array, and roof-mounted solar energy installation (Sec. 4.15.2).

Roof-mounted solar energy installations may exceed applicable height restrictions by 1 to 4 feet (Sec. 4.15.3.2.).

Small-scale ground-mounted PV installations must be at least 25 feet from residential side-yard lines and the front yard setback must be the distance of the primary dwelling from the front property line or 125 feet; they must be screened from neighboring lot lines and require a special permit if taller than 20 feet (Sec. 4.15.3.3.). Required documents include sun and shadow diagrams, detailed info on proposed solar installation location, site drawings (showing location and dimension of solar arrays), and elevation drawings showing heights of buildings and solar arrays (Sec. 4.15.3.4).

Small-scale ground-mounted solar PV installations and roof-mounted solar energy installations require only a building permit but a special permit is required if height exceeds 20 feet (Sec. 4.15.3.5).

Large-scale ground-mounted systems are permitted by right in the Solar Overlay District and by special permit in any other district (Sec.4.15.4.1). Except where permitted by right in the solar overlay district, large-scale systems may be located on any lot containing more than 20 acres in any district by special permit provided certain criteria are met (Sec. 4.15.4.3). All large-scale ground-mounted systems require development plan review (Sec. 4.15.4.4).

All ground-mounted systems shall be surrounded by a 200 feet in depth buffer strip in residential, conservation, or recreation districts and 50 ft in commercial or industrial districts. The ordinance also sets front, rear, and side yard setback requirements in all districts (Sec. 4.15.4.7). The ordinance includes a list of all required documents for large-scale ground-mounted solar systems in addition to the documents required for development plan review (Sec. 4.15.4.8).