The Community Development Director, or his or her designee, shall review the permit application, all supporting documentation, and comments, if any provided by adjoining landowners at the meeting required hereby, if applicable.
(a) If an application is complete, and all applicable requirements of this chapter are met, including, but not limited to, applicable Electrical and Building Codes, the Community Development Director shall promptly issue a permit for the construction of the facility in accordance with the application. Provided, that if the Community Development Director, in his or her reasonably exercised discretion, believes that any portion of the application is incomplete, or any element thereof is deemed deficient in terms of compliance with accepted trade practices or the interests of public safety, the Community Development Director may deny the application, subject to the provisions of subsection (b) of this section.
(b) In the event the Community Development Director denies any application, the Community Development Director may either deny the application outright, or in the alternative, may require alterations or additions to the proposed site plan or application to address any such issues. In either such case, the Community Development Director shall provide written findings indicating the reasons for the denial, and the revisions or remedies to the proposed installation, if any, which he or she deems necessary in order to allow a permit to issue.
(c) Any decision to approve or deny an application, or requiring modifications to the site plan as a condition to approval, shall be provided in writing to the applicant within fourteen days of (a) submission of the completed application or (b) the date of the public meeting required if by Section 1477.09(b) in the case of a large scale solar energy system.
(d) If the applicant does not agree with any finding or condition imposed by the Community Development Director, the applicant may appeal the decision of the Community Development Director in the manner provided for appeals of permit denials generally under these Codified Ordinances. Provided, that any application which is complete shall be presumed valid for purposes of any appeal, and the burden shall be on the Community Development Director to show by a preponderance of the evidence that the proposed installation, or a component thereof, is not in accordance with accepted trade practices or will create a danger to the public health or safety.
(e) A permit review fee shall be payable at the time of application for any permit, according to the following schedule:
(1) Small scale systems: $50.00
(2) Mid scale systems: $150.00
(3) Large scale systems, <5 acres $250.00
(4) Large scale system, >5 acres $500.00
(Ord. 2018-40. Passed 9-17-18.)