Planning Board recommends ordinance language regulating standby generators to city commission

The Birmingham Planning Board voted unanimously Wednesday to recommend that the City Commission adopt amendments to Article 4 (Accessory Structure Standards), Section 4.03, to add provisions for standby generators.

Planning department staff and the fire marshal told the board the rules are intended to reduce safety risks from improperly sited residential generators.

Nick Dupuy, planning department staff, summarized the proposed changes and said “the highlights are, again, as I mentioned, placement...requiring them to be in the rear yard, at least 5 feet away from the principal structure,” and that the draft includes exhaust-direction requirements, limited nonemergency use, and a nonconformity section with fire-department discretion where carbon monoxide is a hazard.

Jeff Skate, fire marshal, told the board that permits for residential generators have grown in recent months. “From August 1 to today's date, we've seen an additional 74,” he said, and added that about 95% of the recent permits were for rear-yard installations.

After discussion the board moved to recommend approval. Brian Williams moved the recommendation and Mr. Scherer seconded; the board recorded the motion as unanimous.

The recommendation moves the language to the City Commission for consideration and potential adoption. The amendment as presented would treat standby generators similarly to accessory structures in terms of placement and certain dimensional requirements, while allowing the fire department limited authority to require conformance where carbon-monoxide buildup creates a safety threat.

No members of the public spoke on the item during the hearing.

Votes at the board level were recorded as unanimous for the recommendation; the Commission will take any final action.

The board closed the public hearing and returned the item to the Commission for its next steps.