Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Battery Storage Ordinance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Holland council adopts UDO changes to regulate battery energy storage systems
Summary
The Holland City Council approved Unified Development Ordinance amendments July 1 to define and regulate battery energy storage systems: small accessory units up to 60 kW allowed citywide, larger accessory units allowed in commercial and high-density residential zones, and principal-use large facilities limited to industrial districts with special land use review.
The Holland City Council unanimously approved updates to the city's Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) July 1 to regulate battery energy storage systems (BESS), a move staff said will preserve local permitting authority under recent state law.
Planning staff member Steve presented the changes recommended by the Planning Commission, explaining the approach: allow small-scale accessory battery storage (threshold set at 60 kilowatts) in all zoning districts with setbacks, height and other standards; permit large-scale accessory systems above 60 kW in commercial and high-density residential as accessory uses; and restrict principal-use large-scale battery storage facilities to the industrial district via special land use review. Staff said the 60 kW threshold was chosen because it approximates the size of a typical electric-vehicle battery pack and represents residential-scale systems.
Steve told the council the ordinance also clarifies that battery installations associated with a utility substation and intended for grid services would qualify as an essential service, allowing them in all districts where essential services are permitted. He said the Planning Commission unanimously recommended the amendments after consulting the Holland Board of Public Works and the city attorney.
Council members asked whether larger projects (on the order of tens of megawatts) would bypass local review. Steve said state statute triggers MPSC review for very large projects (the threshold cited in presentation was 50 megawatts), and the proposed UDO language is intended to keep smaller and medium projects under local land-use review. Councilmember Scholtes asked about effective dates; staff said ordinances typically become effective 21 days after adoption.
Raymond moved to approve the UDO text amendments; the motion was seconded and carried on a roll call. The adopted changes aim to create consistent standards for residential, commercial and industrial battery storage while preserving the city's permitting role for most projects.
