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Georgetown Planning Board approves two residential solar permits and a dock replacement
Summary
At its Dec. 4 meeting the Georgetown Planning Board approved three permits — a 14 kW roof-mounted system, a 12-panel ground-mounted array and a like-for-like dock replacement — and adopted NFPA/state guidance on rooftop 'plan view' area and non-habitable-structure solar rules.
Chairman Bob Trabona presided over the Georgetown Planning Board meeting on Dec. 4, 2024, where the board approved three permit applications and voted to adopt state and NFPA guidance clarifying how rooftop solar coverage is measured.
The board approved a roof-mounted residential solar permit (U8/26, permit no. 24-27) for a 14 kW array at 19 Promontory Way. Revision Energy representatives said the proposed array would sit on the south roof and cover roughly 29% of the roof’s plan area. Erik Mitchell of Revision Energy told the board he had examined alternative panel layouts but could not produce a configuration that achieved 36 inches of clearance at the roof peak. Town CEO Mike Field reported that, after speaking with the state Fire Marshal, the state practice — echoed in NFPA guidance cited in the meeting — treats roof coverage in a “plan view” (an overhead footprint) rather than by individual roof planes. The board voted 5-0 to recognize the NFPA/state “plan view” guidance, found the application complete and approved permit 24-27 (motion by Bob Arledge, seconded by Phil Mason).
The board next approved a ground-mounted residential solar permit (R1/11, permit no. 24-28) for a 12-panel single-pole array at 124 Jewett Road. Corey Levy of First Light Solar said the array is proposed to power a new cabin and that relocating the array farther from the water was impractical because of rock conditions and shading; he added the array dimensions (15.17 feet by 17.2 feet) to the plot plan during the meeting. The board voted 5-0 to find the application complete and to grant permit 24-28 (motion by Bob Arledge, seconded by Phil Mason).
The board also approved an application (U14/53, permit no. 24-29) to replace a dock, ramp and float at 49 Lewis Road that had been washed out in a storm. Tim Forrester reported the replacement is proposed as a like-for-like structure raised the allowable 3 feet; he added a previously missing back lot line to the plans and calculated the structure’s closest point to the shoreline at about 100 feet. The DEP had accepted the permit prior to the meeting; the board approved the permit 5-0 (motion by Bob Arledge, seconded by Phil Mason).
In other business the board approved the minutes of the Nov. 20, 2024 meeting with noted edits (5-0) and voted to adopt state-recognized rules exempting detached, non-habitable structures (sheds, greenhouses, similar outbuildings) from roof-pathway requirements for solar installations. That motion passed 4-0 with Bob Arledge recusing himself from the vote (motion by Phil Mason, seconded by Pam Gunnell). The board also set January meeting dates (Jan. 8 and Jan. 22, 2025) and adjourned at 8:30 p.m.
Votes at a glance
- U8/26 (19 Promontory Way) — roof-mounted solar: approved, permit 24-27; motion: Bob Arledge; second: Phil Mason; vote: 5-0. - R1/11 (124 Jewett Road) — ground-mounted solar: approved, permit 24-28; motion: Bob Arledge; second: Phil Mason; vote: 5-0. - U14/53 (49 Lewis Road) — dock/ramp/float replacement: approved, permit 24-29; motion: Bob Arledge; second: Phil Mason; vote: 5-0. - Adoption of state guidance for non-habitable structures’ solar rules: approved; motion: Phil Mason; second: Pam Gunnell; vote: 4-0 (Bob Arledge abstained). - Minutes (11/20/2024): approved 5-0.
The board meetings return to the Town Office’s regular schedule (first and third Wednesdays at 7 p.m.); the next regular meeting is Jan. 8, 2025.
