The Village of Mount Prospect is committed to encouraging the use of environmentally sensitive development techniques in order to improve the quality of life and environmental health of the community as a whole. Green building design is a technique which incorporates design principles and strategies that limit the energy demands of buildings and also create healthier living environments within them. Green building techniques may include, but are not limited to, green roofs, reflective white roofs, permeable paving, stormwater harvesting, use of landscaping to reduce thermal demand, and use of reusable energy sources. This section provides direction on common green building design practices. While not a comprehensive list of all potential green initiatives, the Village encourages property owners to follow green design principles.
A. Wind Energy Conversion Systems: The Village of Mount Prospect has found wind energy conversion systems (WECS) to be a viable and useful method of localized energy generation. Conditional use permits to authorize WECS are allowed in all zoning districts. Due to the specialization and technical nature of WECS, the following criteria have been established as minimum standards for the recommendation and approval of such permits.
1. No more than one WECS shall be permitted per zoning lot. More than one WECS may be permitted for commercial and industrial properties, subject to the approval of the village board.
2. Rooftop mounted WECS:
a. Shall be set back at least twenty feet (20') from front or exterior building lines, and at least ten feet (10') from side building lines. Setbacks shall be measured to the widest point of blade rotation or to the side of the WECS, whichever is greater.
b. Shall be limited to a height of no more than fifteen feet (15') above the roof peak or top of a parapet wall, whichever is greater. Total height shall be measured from the highest point of blade rotation or the highest point of the WECS, whichever is greater.
c. Shall comply with all noise regulations of the Village of Mount Prospect.
d. Shall be safely and securely attached to the rooftop in compliance with the Village of Mount Prospect building code.
3. Tower mounted WECS:
a. Shall not be permitted in single-family residential districts.
b. The WECS tower or any associated structure shall comply with the minimum setback requirements of the zoning district in which the WECS is located or be set back a distance equal to 1.1 times the total height of the structure from any property line, whichever distance is greater. Total structure height shall be measured from the highest point of blade rotation to the ground.
c. A WECS tower shall be set back a minimum of twenty feet (20') from any principal structure on the property.
d. The maximum permissible height of a WECS tower shall not exceed eighty feet (80').
e. Rotor blades or airfoils must maintain at least twelve feet (12') of clearance between their lowest point of rotation and the ground.
f. All climbing apparatus affixed to a WECS tower shall terminate twelve feet (12') short of ground level.
g. All WECS facilities shall be enclosed within a building or surrounded by a six foot (6') high safety fence.
h. All WECS towers shall be constructed with an approved concrete foundation.
4. All WECS structures, including roof mounted, towers, and accessory buildings, shall conform to the appropriate village related rules and regulations pertaining to their construction, design, operation and maintenance.
5. WECS shall be designed to withstand a minimum wind velocity of one hundred (100) miles per hour, with an impact pressure of forty (40) pounds per square foot.
6. The applicant shall submit documentation that the proposed WECS will not create a nuisance to adjacent uses. In no event shall the noise level produced by a WECS continuously exceed sixty five (65) decibels as measured at the property line.
7. No WECS shall cause electromagnetic degradation in performance of other electromagnetic radiators, receptors, or generators of quality and proper design. The Village reserves the right to revoke any conditional use permit for a WECS system whenever electromagnetic interference from the WECS is evident and cannot be corrected.
8. WECS shall not be artificially lighted, except to the extent required by the FAA or other applicable government authority.
9. All wind turbines shall have an automatic braking, governing or feathering system to prevent uncontrolled rotation, overspeeding and excessive pressure on the tower structure, rotor blades and turbine components.
B. Solar Energy Conversion Systems: The Village of Mount Prospect has found solar energy conversion systems (SECS) to be a viable and useful method of localized energy generation. SECS shall be permitted in all zoning districts in accordance with the following minimum standards:
1. Rooftop Mounted SECS:
a. Shall not project higher than the maximum building height permitted for the zoning district. If mounted on an accessory structure, the SECS shall not project higher than the maximum height permitted for that structure.
b. If mounted on a pitched roof, shall be mounted flush with the slope of the roof and shall not extend further than twelve inches (12") from the roof surface at any point. SECS shall not extend beyond the ridgeline of the roof at any point.
c. Shall be safely and securely attached to the rooftop in compliance with the Village of Mount Prospect building code.
2. Ground Mounted SECS:
a. Shall not be permitted in residential zoning districts.
b. Shall satisfy the applicable setback requirements for an accessory structure on the zoning lot.
c. Shall be limited to a maximum of one hundred (100) square feet in size.
d. All ground based utilities associated with the SECS shall be appropriately screened in accordance with the requirements of section 14.304.1 of this article.
e. A maximum of two (2) ground mounted SECS shall be permitted per acre per property.
3. Glare: Installation of the solar energy conversion systems shall be designed to avoid glare or reflection onto adjacent properties and adjacent roadways. Exterior surface shall have a nonreflective finish and shall be color coordinated to harmonize with roof materials and other dominant colors of the structure.
4. Conformance: All SECS structures, including roof mounted, towers, and accessory buildings, shall conform to the appropriate Village related rules and regulations pertaining to their construction, design, operation and maintenance.
C. Electric Vehicle Charging Station: The Village of Mount Prospect recognizes the growing electric vehicle market and proposes the following minimum standards in order to reduce automobile air pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, and storm water runoff contaminants, encourage electric vehicle charging infrastructure to increase electric vehicle usage across the Village, and streamline the permitting process:
1. Location: Electric charging station equipment shall not block the public right-of-way. EV charging stations are encouraged in landscaped areas. If located within a parking lot, EV charging stations shall be placed to minimize vehicular and pedestrian conflicts and maintain site aesthetics.
2. Signage: A public charging station must be posted with a sign indicating the space is only for electric vehicle purposes. Days and hours of operation must be included if time limits or tow away provisions are to be enforced by the property owner. Information identifying voltage and amperage levels or safety information shall be posted. Only signs required to identify the purpose and function of the charging station and corresponding parking space are allowed in compliance with Chapter 7 Sign Regulations. Off-premises advertisement of goods and services is prohibited on LED screens or on any other component of the charging station through images or sound.
3. Parking: Charging station spaces reserved only for electric vehicles may be included in the overall calculation of minimum parking spaces required for the primary use by this Chapter, provided that such charging station spaces do not (a) account for more than 10% of the minimum parking spaces required, or (b) reduce the dimensions of adjoining spaces or the parking aisle or reduce the number of available spaces below the minimum required by Article XXII Off Street Parking and Loading. Subject to the conditions of this Article, additional charging station spaces may be constructed but they will not count towards any minimum parking spaces required.
4. Accessibility: If any EV charging stations are constructed in nonsingle-family residential districts, a minimum of one accessible charging station with an adjacent accessible parking space shall be installed per development in compliance with all local, state, and federal accessibility requirements. The accessible charging station does not have to be designated for exclusive use of persons with disabilities, unless it is intended to satisfy the overall accessibility requirement of Article XXII Off Street Parking and Loading.
5. Screening: Charging station equipment must be screened from adjacent properties and the right-of-way with native ornamental grasses that are sufficiently tall and dense, as feasible. Documentation providing the rationale for screening that is not feasible shall be submitted by the installer and approved by the Director of Community Development.
6. Pavement Marking: Lettering that states "EV Charging" or "EV Charging Only" and any marking to delineate accessible spaces, shall be the only pavement marking permitted to identify charging station spaces.
7. Equipment Protection: All equipment shall be protected via curbing, bollards, or similar protective structure or device. (Ord. 6286, 12-6-2016; amd. Ord. 6669, 3-21-2023)