A. The minimum requirements of this section, including the development standards set forth in Table 1 ( Development standards for solar energy systems or energy storage facilities) below, shall apply to any solar energy system or energy storage facility located in any zoning district.
Table 1. Development standards for solar energy systems or energy storage facilities | ||
Development Standard | Solar energy systems | Energy storage facilities |
Table 1. Development standards for solar energy systems or energy storage facilities | ||
Development Standard | Solar energy systems | Energy storage facilities |
Maximum site area | 200 acres | 100 acres |
Setbacks (minimum) | AG zone: 40 foot perimeter | AG zone: 40 foot perimeter |
LI and HI zones: 30 foot perimeter | LI and HI zones: 40 foot perimeter | |
Maximum structure height | 16 feet | 16 feet |
Buffers (minimum) | Parcels containing other solar energy systems: 2,000 feet* | Parcels containing other energy storage facilities: 2,000 feet* |
Major roadways
† | Major roadways
† | |
Interstate 10 (I-10) - Pinal county line south to Twin Peaks Road interchange: 1 mile | Interstate 10 (I-10) - Pinal county line south to Twin Peaks Road interchange: 1 mile | |
Tangerine Road - Dove Mountain Boulevard west to I-10: ½ mile | Tangerine Road - Dove Mountain Boulevard west to I-10: ½ mile | |
Twin Peaks Road - Saguaro Highlands Drive west to town boundary: ½ mile | Twin Peaks Road - Saguaro Highlands Drive west to town boundary: ½ mile | |
Avra Valley Road - within town's boundaries: ½ mile | Avra Valley Road - within town's boundaries: ½ mile | |
Residential zoned parcel: 500 feet* | ||
Abutting an existing residential dwelling: 1,000 feet* | ||
* Measured in a straight line from the boundary of each parcel
†
Measured from right-of-way centerline on both sides | ||
B. The developer of a solar energy system or energy storage facility must provide the town with a decommissioning plan for the site at the time of development plan review. The plan must include the necessary funding assurances to ensure the property is returned to its pre-development condition, flat state or better, including remediating any environmental issue caused by the solar energy system or energy storage facility.
C. If title to the solar energy system or energy storage facility is vested in a special purpose entity, a written guaranty from its parent company must be included with the decommissioning plan required by paragraph B, above, fully binding the parent company to all the terms and conditions of the decommissioning plan. If the solar energy system or energy storage facility is leased, sold, or conveyed, the guaranty shall be fully binding upon the successors and assigns of the special purpose entity and parent company, as well as any other subsequent owner/operator of the solar energy system or energy storage facility.
D. Solar energy systems and energy storage facilities shall be maintained in good working order and in accordance with manufacturer and industry standards. Any solar energy system or energy storage facility, or any component of a system or facility, which becomes inoperable shall be made operational or shall be removed from the property within one year of the date the system or facility became inoperable, all at the owner's expense.
E. Approval granted to an individual property owner of a solar energy system shall not be construed to bar owners or tenants of any adjacent property from ordinary or permitted building, landscaping, or other accessory improvements, even if such improvements may diminish the function of the solar energy system.
Ordinance 2022.026 added Section 17-6-11