Huntersville planning staff backs changes to allow taller freestanding solar over parking, public hearing held

Planning staff presented a text amendment (TA‑25‑09) Aug. 5 that would modify Article 9.45 (Solar Energy Facilities) to expand where minor freestanding solar facilities may be sited and how tall they could be on nonresidential properties. A staff presenter (planning) said the proposal, submitted by Burker USA Corporation, would allow minor freestanding solar energy facilities up to 14 feet tall when placed over vehicular surface parking lots or ground‑level pedestrian walkways on commercial properties, provided the installations are behind an 80‑foot vegetated buffer and meet existing commercial buffering and parking‑screening standards. The amendment would also allow freestanding minor solar facilities to be placed in front yards of nonresidential properties if they are screened from the public street. Staff advised the amendment is consistent with the Huntersville 2040 plan policy EOS 9.1 promoting energy‑efficient design. Planning staff recommended approval and presented a future timeline for adoption steps. The applicant was not present at the hearing. One member of the public, Christine Wolak of Vermillion, spoke in support of the allowance for solar canopies over parking, saying such structures provide shade and rain protection and are common in other states. Commissioners asked clarifying questions about the 80‑foot buffer, visibility over time as vegetation grows, and whether additional ordinance changes could make the town more solar‑friendly. Staff replied the 80‑foot buffer reflected Burker’s existing conditions and that commercial buffering and parking‑screening requirements would still apply. Staff said the town had already made minor solar facilities a by‑right improvement in 2022 and believed the ordinance was reasonably solar‑friendly. No vote on the text amendment was recorded during the hearing; staff recommended approval and will return with the drafting and adoption steps.