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Board approves landscape/screening variance for Midtown solar parking canopies despite neighbor protest
Summary
A variance allowing removal of some tree‑within‑75‑feet and screening requirements for solar parking canopies at 1140 North Robinson Avenue (case 15861) was approved; opponents argued the application did not show statutory hardship while proponents said screening would reduce solar output.
The Board of Adjustment approved a variance for landscaping and screening requirements at 1140 North Robinson Avenue to allow solar canopies over parking and to modify tree‑placement rules that otherwise require a tree within every 75 feet of parking spaces (case 15861).
Brett Wall, the project’s landscape architect, said the proposal uses solar canopies for covered parking and that placing required landscape trees within or adjacent to those canopies would cast shade and reduce the panels’ energy production. Wall said the owner intends the carports to be potentially reusable if the site is redeveloped in the future and had coordinated with the Downtown Design Review Committee (DDRC).
Corey Bates of 8 20 Solar explained the technical concern: screening or trees close to the panels would reduce generation. Opposing the variance, Austin Ham (representing a nearby property interest) said the application did not demonstrate the statutory hardship required for a variance and argued the landscaping code’s goals—shade, stormwater reduction and heat‑island mitigation—would be undermined. Ham asked for a deferral to negotiate; he offered to work with the applicant if the board wished to delay. The applicant described design modifications to the carport fascias that will conceal panel edges and said additional landscaping is proposed in other areas of the site.
After board discussion the variance passed on a motion finding the statutory requirements were met.
