Town and Country holds hearing on zoning changes for residential solar; front‑facing panels may remain under aldermanic review

Town and Country’s Board of Aldermen opened a public hearing Oct. 13 on proposed zoning amendments to regulate solar energy systems, including changes to the review process for roof‑mounted and ground‑mounted installations. City planner Ryan presented the proposal and said the changes are intended to modernize terminology, shorten review timelines and retain existing design standards.

Ryan, the city planner, told the board that the town’s current solar rules date to a 2013 update and that ‘‘in the last 12 years, there have been 30 plus solar energy systems approved, 26 through architectural review.’’ He said rear roof‑mounted systems are proposed to be handled as building‑permit work, front‑ or street‑facing arrays would be routed to the Architectural Review Board (ARB), and ground‑mounted systems would remain a conditional‑use matter with a proposed 5‑acre minimum lot size. He added that the ARB reviewed the amendments and recommended them 7–0.

The planner also explained the timing staff aimed to address: neighborhood/conditional‑use notice periods that can take 30–45 days, ARB review that can add roughly 30 days, and typical building permit reviews of about 15 business days. The amendments are intended in part to allow some reviews to run concurrently rather than sequentially.

Mayor Mary praised staff for the work on the package. An alderman said neighbors surveyed informally supported solar generally but ‘‘felt strongly that the decision is where it gets placed and how it affects the neighborhood and who can see it,’’ and urged that front‑facing installations remain decided by elected officials rather than only the ARB. The alderman asked staff to prepare a substitute bill for the Oct. 27 meeting that would keep the front‑facing component under board review.

No members of the public spoke during the hearing on solar, and the mayor closed the public hearing. Bill 2543 was continued to the Oct. 27 meeting for second reading and further consideration.

Why it matters: The proposed changes would shorten permit timelines for some rooftop systems while preserving local review for installations that most affect visible neighborhood character. The board will take up a revised proposal on Oct. 27.