Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Solar Policy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board hears revisions to ground‑mounted solar rules; members favor special-use review and screening
Summary
The Zoning Board held a public hearing on proposed changes to rules for ground-mounted solar energy systems, including special-use permitting for residential installations and standards for lot size, setback and maximum height; members directed staff to add clearer screening requirements.
The Zoning Board of Appeals conducted a public hearing Nov. 13 on draft amendments governing ground-mounted solar energy collection systems in the Village of Roscoe. Staff presented changes aimed at clarifying allowed locations, height limits and screening requirements for residential systems.
Key elements of the draft - Clarify that provisions apply to freestanding, ground-mounted solar systems (not roof-mounted panels). - Allow ground-mounted systems on parcels larger than 2.5 acres and set back more than 35 feet from all lot lines, with a 12-foot maximum height for such systems. - Require a special-use permit for residential properties to install private ground-mounted solar systems, giving the board discretion to impose conditions such as screening.
Board discussion Members emphasized screening and case-by-case review. Several noted an earlier residential variance for a Main Street property and questioned whether mandatory screening requirements should be written into the code rather than only applied as conditions during a special-use review. Staff said designing screening standards in the code is an option but highlighted that special-use review enables property-specific conditions such as landscape screening, berms or fences.
Board members expressed concern about “visual impact” and the appearance of large ground-mounted arrays in residential neighborhoods; they suggested the draft include clear screening intent and that applicants be required to show proposed screening as part of the application.
Staff also noted state and federal rules covering larger community-scale systems but said they were not aware of a requirement that small residential arrays be permitted by right. Board members asked staff to research any relevant state/federal constraints and to return with clearer screening language and application requirements.
No final vote was taken; staff will revise the draft to add screening specifics and return for further review.
