(a) Free Standing Solar Collection Systems that are more than 25,000 square feet in total area but less than 50,000 square feet in total area are conditional uses certain districts and Free Standing Solar Collection Systems that are 50,000 square feet in total area or more, but less than 100,000 square feet are also conditional uses in certain districts subject to the following requirements:
(1) Free Standing Solar Collection Systems shall be a minimum of 300 feet from any other Free Standing Solar Collection Systems regardless of property ownership.
(2) Free standing solar panels located on the ground or attached to a framework located on the ground shall not exceed twenty (20) feet in height above the ground.
(3) All recommended manufacturers' or installers' identification and appropriate warning signage shall be posted on or near the panels in a clearly visible manner.
(4) No solar energy system shall be installed until evidence has been provided to the Village of New Concord that the system complies with the laws of the State of Ohio including; the Ohio Building Code, National Electric Code and all manufacturer's specifications.
(5) Free Standing Solar Collection Systems shall be located a minimum of 200 lineal feet from the nearest residential district or public street
A. Except that the minimum setback from the nearest residential district or public street for Free Standing Solar Collection Systems may be reduced to 100 lineal feet provided that it is effectively screened on each side that adjoins or faces any public street or residential zoning district by a fence or hedge not less than six (6) feet in height that shall be maintained in good condition.
B. The space between such wall or fence and the lot line of the adjoining Residential District or public street shall be landscaped with grass, hardy shrubs, or evergreen ground cover and maintained in good condition.
C. In lieu of such wall or fence, a strip of land not less than six (6) feet in width and planted and maintained with an evergreen hedge or dense planting of evergreen shrubs not less than six (6) feet in height may be substituted.
(c) Maintenance.
(1) All free standing solar collection systems shall be maintained in proper working order.
(2) Any physical modification to the free standing solar collection system that alters the mechanical load, mechanical load path, or major electrical components shall require reapplication for conditional use under this section. Like-kind replacements shall not require reapplication.
(3) All free standing solar collection system sites shall be maintained to the desired community standards including but not limited to the following:
A. Free of weeds and tall grass
B. Free of debris
C. Shall remain clean and free of peeling paint or unsightly damage
D. The above standards, along with all applicable requirements for screening, apply to any screening that may be installed around the free standing solar collection system.
(c) Abandonment.
(1) Any free standing solar collection system that is out-of-service for a continuous twelve (12) month period will be deemed to have been abandoned. The Zoning Officer may issue a Notice of Abandonment to the owner of the free standing solar collection system that is deemed to have been abandoned. The owner shall have the right to respond to the Notice of Abandonment within thirty (30) days from the Notice receipt date. The Zoning Officer shall withdraw the Notice of Abandonment and notify the owner that the Notice has been withdrawn if the owner provides information that demonstrates the free standing solar collection system had not been abandoned.
(2) If the free standing solar collection system is determined to be abandoned, the owner shall remove the system within ninety (90) days of the Notice of Abandonment and the site must be reclaimed to a depth of two (2) feet, if necessary. If the owner fails to remove the free standing solar collection system and reclaim the site, the Village may remove or cause the removal of the system and the reclamation of the site. The cost of removal and reclamation will become a lien upon the property and may be collected in the same manner as property taxes.
(Ord. K-11-17-3. Passed 11-13-17.)