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Planning board sends positive referral for First Congregational Church rooftop solar
Summary
The New Castle Planning Board voted to refer an amendment to the church's special use permit that would allow about a 73 kW DC (50 kW AC) rooftop solar array, after hearing a viewshed analysis showing limited visibility and noting that the ARB approved the design and neighbors did not object.
The New Castle Planning Board voted June 17 to transmit a positive referral to the Zoning Board of Appeals for the First Congregational Church’s amended special use permit to permit rooftop solar panels at 210 Orchard Ridge Road.
Bill Spade, a global architect and member of the church’s board of trustees, presented the proposal and a viewshed analysis showing the church is largely screened by mature trees. He said the project is a 73 kilowatt DC system (50 kW AC) to be placed primarily on flat roof sections and two small gable roof areas. Spade said the panels sit about 3 inches thick and will rise up to roughly 8.5 inches at the rear edge; roughly six panels will be visible on a front gable. He told the board that the church received approval from the Architectural Review Board two weeks earlier and that neighboring property owners were notified of the zoning appearance; no neighbors attended the zoning meeting and no objections had been filed.
“From most surrounding properties the building is largely screened by mature trees,” Spade said during his presentation, adding that the church expects to install the panels as soon as next month.
Sabrina (staff) asked the applicant to submit the complete visual materials to the ZBA promptly because the ZBA is drafting a resolution and is working under tight funding-related time constraints. Sabrina also noted that the applicant has met the town’s code requirements for solar installations, including elevation and height limitations.
Board members asked technical and program questions. The church’s representative said roughly 60 percent of the system cost is covered by a combination of grants and rebates tied to program kilowatt caps, which is why the design was sized as presented. Spade said the church projects a payback period of about four years under the current rebate structure.
When asked whether battery energy storage is part of the installation, the applicant said storage had been considered but is not part of the project at this time. The board recorded no required tree removals and no wetlands impacts for the proposed work.
The board moved, seconded and voted to send a positive referral to the Zoning Board of Appeals and asked staff to include the viewshed and elevation materials in the referral package so the ZBA can finalize its resolution.
