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Mahwah resident raises solar-panel glare concern; commission to seek site-visit findings and consider ordinance review
Summary
Resident Michael Sisti told the Mahwah Environmental Commission that glare from a neighbor’s rooftop solar panels is affecting his home and could pose a traffic-visibility hazard; the commission asked Planning & Zoning for site-visit findings and discussed reviewing the township’s solar ordinance.
Michael Sisti, a Mahwah resident, told the Township of Mahwah Environmental Commission at its March 25 meeting that glare from a neighboring property’s solar panels is affecting his home and "may also pose a visibility concern for local traffic." The minutes state Sisti had previously contacted the Planning and Zoning Department and reported having presented the issue to the Town Council.
Commission members discussed a roughly 15-foot elevation difference between the two properties, which Sisti said likely magnifies the glare. The commission asked the Planning and Zoning Department to share any site-visit findings or comments that could clarify whether environmental or safety concerns exist and what mitigation options would be appropriate.
Commissioners spoke in favor of exploring mitigation both "at the source" (changes to the neighboring installation) and on Sisti’s property. Several members also noted that neighboring municipalities have adopted ordinances addressing solar glare and said it may be appropriate to review Mahwah’s existing solar-panel ordinance for updates to help prevent similar issues.
The commission did not take formal action to require modifications to the neighboring panels at the meeting. The minutes record that the commission will await Planning & Zoning’s findings and revisit the matter; no vote tallies tied to individual members were recorded in the minutes beyond the notation that motions were carried "all in favor."
