Council discusses flexible uses in restricted industrial zone, including rooftop/ground solar and battery storage

Taneytown city staff and council members discussed Sept. 3 how to update the town’s restricted industrial zoning to allow limited flexible uses — such as employee‑oriented services, rooftop and ground‑mounted solar, and energy storage containers — while protecting industrial land for manufacturing.

City manager Jim told the council he’d been hearing from manufacturers such as FlowServe and others that employees want nearby services — sidewalks, day care or small retail — and that some manufacturers have excess acreage that could be used for ground‑mounted solar to offset energy costs. Staff proposed exploring an overlay zone or a special‑exception process to allow accessory uses while limiting proliferation of nonindustrial uses across the whole district.

Council and staff debated whether to make certain uses permitted by right, tied to the developed industrial footprint, or require an overlay/special exception designation. One option discussed was limiting ground‑mounted solar to an amount tied to the square footage of an existing manufacturing facility or to the on‑site electricity demand so panels remain accessory to manufacturing rather than allowing solar farms that substitute for industrial development.

The manager also raised energy storage systems — typically containerized batteries — as an emerging use associated with data centers and other high‑demand users; staff flagged safety, fire‑protection and state preemption questions that will require further research. Council members asked staff to examine state rules (including potential preemption under Maryland renewable energy statutes and COMAR) and to return with draft language that preserves industrial land value while providing clarity for rooftop solar and accessory energy generation.

Staff said the planning commission will continue discussions and that draft code language might be available for council review next month; the manager recommended the town adopt a baseline consistent with state standards and then add local buffering, setback and accessory‑use limits where allowable.