Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Solar Carports topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Suffern ZBA approves variance for JPMorgan Chase solar carports at 67 Lafayette Avenue
Summary
The Zoning Board unanimously approved variances to permit solar carports at JPMorgan Chase's 67 Lafayette Ave. site after finding a modest exceedance of the CB district's maximum lot coverage; planning-board preliminary site plan approval had already been granted.
The Village of Suffern Zoning Board of Appeals on Jan. 9 voted to approve variances to allow installation of solar carports at JPMorgan Chase's branch at 67 Lafayette Avenue, a project that will modestly increase development lot coverage in parts of the combined site.
Brian Powers, a project manager with Black & Veatch contracted by JPMorgan Chase, described a project to install two carport-mounted solar arrays in the branch's parking areas. He said Chase operates three adjacent tax lots that have been used de-facto as a single property since purchase in the early 1960s but were not formally merged. The project team's calculations showed the two parking-lot parcels would have existing combined lot coverage about 72.8% and would increase to roughly 75% once the carport supports and arrays are counted; the CB district limit noted in the filing is 70%.
Board members discussed whether the coverage figures should be treated per individual lot or for the combined parcels; the applicant and project counsel said the arrays primarily affect the two parking-lot parcels, and all three lots are owned by Chase. The building inspector's determination cited a development coverage limitation and did not list additional front-yard variances as issues because certain existing structures are preexisting nonconforming features.
Board members asked technical questions about life expectancy of panels and projected energy offset. Powers said typical panel lifespans are about 20 years before replacement and that this project is anticipated to provide just under 40% of the facility's energy needs, depending on the site.
After discussion, Miss Wilson moved to approve and Mr. Adwar seconded; the motion passed with all members voting in favor. The board noted the project had already received a preliminary site-plan approval from the Planning Board and that the variance is needed for the lot coverage calculation to proceed with final approvals.
