Planning board approves homeowner's 26‑kW standby generator; staff to issue permit

The Auburn Planning Board voted to accept a homeowner's application to install a 26‑kilowatt standby generator after the applicant described a medical need for backup power.

Willis Davis, homeowner, told the board his 84‑year‑old wife has deep‑vein thrombosis and limited mobility and said recent outages left them without adequate heat and power for extended periods. "This last power outage ... really put a little scare in me," Davis said during his presentation.

Board members asked for basic project details and then moved to accept the application as presented. A board member who identified themself as a planning board member made the motion to accept; another planning board member seconded it. The motion passed on an affirmative voice vote. Planning staff told Davis they would send an approval email the next day and that he could take that to the codes office, pay the permit fee and proceed with final permitting.

In his presentation, Davis said he had researched generator brands and selected a 26‑kilowatt Generac, noting that models above roughly 26 kW become liquid‑cooled and larger, with more noise and other tradeoffs. He told the board his house sits about 417 feet off South Street and that the proposed generator location is on the west end of the house, roughly 12–15 feet from the chimney for cosmetic reasons. He said the unit would meet the manufacturer's recommended minimum setback of 10 feet from structures and property lines.

Davis provided staff figures on sound levels, saying a 7.5‑kW generator averages about 69 decibels at 23 feet and that the 26‑kW Generac he selected was listed at about 68 decibels at the same distance. He told the board he checked nearby neighbors and said none objected, and that licensed local contractor Greg Gallagher (Gallinger Lilly) would do the plumbing and electrician Dan Landis would run the electrical and gas connections. Davis said he was still awaiting detailed quotes from the electrician and plumber; he provided an estimated wire run of about 85 feet at $12 per foot and anticipated plumbing and electrical labor of roughly $1,500 each but said final bids were not yet submitted.

Planning staff (listed in the minutes as Miss Tukey) confirmed staff would send a written approval that Davis could present to the codes office to obtain a permit and pay fees. Tukey also answered board questions that exterior mechanical equipment is normally routed for review under the board's exterior‑change procedures and that any change to which projects are routed would require a formal zoning code amendment.

Board discussion touched on whether the board should create a separate criterion exempting medically necessary standby generators from full exterior‑change review. One board member suggested a life‑and‑safety exception for medically dependent residents; others cautioned that creating an exception could open "a can of worms" and preferred to continue handling exterior projects on a case‑by‑case basis under existing review processes.

Votes at a glance • Motion to approve minutes from Nov. 11 — moved by Board member 3; seconded by Board member 2; outcome: approved (voice vote). • Motion to accept Willis Davis's generator proposal as presented — moved by Board member 1; seconded by Board member 2; outcome: approved (voice vote).