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Town and Country keeps street‑facing solar panels subject to public review; substitute ordinance passes 6–2
Summary
The board approved a substitute to Bill 25‑43 that streamlines permitting for rear‑facing solar systems but retains public notice and conditional review for front/street‑facing installations. The motion passed 6–2 and the ordinance was assigned No. 4715.
The Town and Country Board of Aldermen on Oct. 27 approved a substitute to Bill 25‑43, an ordinance amending municipal code provisions related to solar energy systems, that maintains the current conditional review and notice process for front‑ or street‑facing panels while simplifying the approval process for rear‑facing systems.
Under the substitute approved by the board, rear‑facing solar arrays that are not visible from the street would be permitted with an administrative process, while any panel installation that is street‑facing will continue to require a conditional development plan (CDP) and formal notice to nearby properties.
Alderman Gonzales, who moved the substitute, described the change as a compromise that preserves public notice for street‑visible panels while making it easier for residents to install rear‑facing systems. "The original bill is designed to streamline the process of adding a solar energy system to someone's house," Gonzales said, and the substitute keeps the front‑facing requirement in place to allow neighbors time to respond.
Two residents who spoke during the public comment period said the rules as originally amended could unfairly limit rooftop solar for houses with roof orientation or tree cover that require panels on multiple roof faces. Joe Lorishkin of 1812 Bradburn Drive said the restriction would make it "very difficult for a lot of people" to install solar panels. Amy Nervishkin, also of 1812 Bradburn Drive, said a vendor told her that placing panels only on the back of her house would not produce enough energy and forced a multi‑roof spread that the substitute would prevent.
The board discussed definitions of "street‑facing" and whether side‑facing panels visible from streets should be treated as front‑facing. Staff and multiple aldermen said that most conditional use applications for front‑facing panels had been approved historically. The city clerk completed a roll call after the motion; the substitute passed 6–2 and became Ordinance No. 4715.
Vote (roll call): Alderman Kinsella—Aye; Alderman Murphy—Aye; Alderman Steinhelan—Aye; Alderman Carter—Aye; Alderman Sawyer—Aye; Alderman Gerber—Nay; Alderman Hughes—Nay; Alderman Schware—Aye.
The ordinance text as read at the meeting amends Title 4 (Land Use) and Title 5 (Building and Construction) of the Town and Country Municipal Code to address zoning regulation and building code provisions pertaining to solar energy systems.
