Any renewable energy system located on private property shall comply with the following specific standards and conditions:
(a) Definitions.
(1) Abandonment - The discontinued use of the renewable energy generation system in whole or part.
(2) Design Review Board - The City Planning Commission of the City of Painesville.
(3) Renewable energy system - An energy system powered by a natural resource rather than by the use of a conventional source of energy such as petroleum products, natural gas, manufactured gas, or electricity produced from a nonrenewable source, and, specifically including a solar energy system as defined in this chapter.
(4) Solar array - Any collection of solar panels, connectors, battery banks, controllers, wiring, meters, and switching devices intended to work in combination to convert solar energy to electrical power.
(5) Solar cell - The basic photovoltaic device that generates electricity when exposed to light.
(6) Solar energy system - The photovoltaic cells and related accessories that are designed to convert solar energy into electrical energy; or a system consisting of solar thermal collectors, parabolic reflectors, or similar structures that are designed to harness solar energy for use as thermal energy for heating water or air and may include battery storage systems.
(7) Solar panel - Any device used for collecting solar energy and converting it to electrical power.
(b) Applicability.
(1) Renewable energy systems shall be designed, erected, installed, operated, and maintained in accordance with the provisions set forth in this chapter.
(2) A building permit and electrical permit shall be required prior to the erection, installation, connection, or operation of any renewable energy system.
(3) Like-kind replacements, minor repairs or maintenance of lawfully existing renewable energy systems not involving structural changes may be undertaken without first obtaining a permit.
(c) Application Requirements. In addition to the application requirements set forth in Section 1111.03
, an application for a renewable energy system shall include:
(1) The manufacturer's specifications.
(2) Complete architectural and engineering drawings, adequately scaled and dimensioned depicting the location, installation, mounting, anchorage details, appearance on the building and details for wiring and connections, and battery storage system details.
(3) Details for battery storage systems regarding:
A. Location of equipment;
B. Ventilation;
C. Containment;
D. Supporting structures for batteries and equipment; and
E. Electrical system, devices and wiring.
(4) Evidence that the proposed system has been reviewed by the City of Painesville Bureau of Fire Prevention and its findings and recommendations are submitted with the application.
(5) Evidence that the City of Painesville Municipal Electric Department approves the applicant's intent to install an interconnected customer-owned system and that such system is in accordance with the City of Painesville Electric Department Renewable Electric Generation Policy.
(6) Verification that the installer has the necessary professional training, North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) certification and licensure and insurance as may be required for the installation of renewable energy systems.
(7) Certification by a licensed structural engineer that the roof of the building is designed to handle all structural loads including those imposed by the proposed renewable system.
(8) A description of the location and type of any required screening.
(9) A description of emergency and normal shutdown procedures and location of electrical disconnection switch.
(10) Payment of the fee as required by Section 1105.05.
(d) General Requirements.
(1) Renewable energy systems shall be permitted as accessory to a main use or building located on the same lot or parcel. Such facilities shall be designed, installed, or constructed to provide electrical power to serve only the main use or building to which they are accessory.
(2) The Design Review Board shall review renewable energy systems applications for compliance with the Building Code, general design standards, and design standards established in this Unified Development Code.
(3) Renewable energy systems shall not be visible from any street or sidewalk at the front elevation of the property; provided however, that the Design Review Board may approve the placement of renewable energy systems in roof locations that are visible from any street or sidewalk, when the applicant has demonstrated to the Design Review Board that:
A. The alternative location is necessary to optimize system functionality;
B. The proposed system(s) and their location(s) are designed to minimize any adverse impacts to the neighborhood; and/or
C. The size and location of any structure is the minimum necessary to serve the needs of the building(s) on the property.
(4) When locating renewable energy systems, it is the property owner's responsibility to consider current and future development, growth of trees and vegetation, and other obstructions that might interfere with solar access. Nothing in this section shall prohibit the owner of the renewable energy system from requesting or obtaining a renewable energy system access easement from any person.
(5) Accessory components shall be located either within a building, or within a screened enclosure behind the main building, or are hidden from view behind the parapet wall of buildings with flat roofs.
(6) Renewable energy systems shall be properly maintained at all times in compliance with all manufacturers' specifications. The applicant shall provide the city reasonable access to inspect the renewable energy system in accordance with the City of Painesville Electric Department Renewable Electric Generation Policy.
(e) Solar Energy System. Solar panels shall be placed on the roof of a building in accordance with the following:
(1) Solar panels shall not be visible from any street or sidewalk at the front elevation of the property unless approved in accordance with procedures set forth in subsection (d) herein.
(2) Solar panels shall not extend beyond the edge of the roof.
(3) For pitched roofs (sloped in excess of three inches per foot), solar panels shall be placed parallel to the plane of pitched roof and shall be ten inches or less above the surface of the roof when measured to the top of the solar panel.
(4) For low slope (pitches less than three inches per foot) and flat roofs, the Design Review Board may approve solar panels of alternative heights and configurations as appropriate for such roof.
(5) Solar energy access easements shall be in compliance with Ohio R.C. 5301.63 which sets forth the requirements for such access. In order to ensure adequate access of solar energy collection devices to sunlight, any person may grant a solar access casement. Such easements shall be in writing and subject to the same conveyance and recording requirements as other easements. Any instrument creating a solar easement shall be recorded in the Lake County Recorder's Office.
(6) Solar panels and related equipment shall be located, oriented or screened and constructed of such material to prevent to the fullest extent practicable glare from solar panels to not be directed at any other person, building or public right-of-way.
(7) Solar panels shall be uniform in appearance and color, and to the extent practicable, match the design and color of the roof on which the panels will be placed.
(g) Abandonment. Upon abandonment, the owner shall physically remove the renewable energy system within 60 days from the date of abandonment. "Physically remove" shall include, but not be limited to:
(1) Removal of the renewable energy system and related above grade structures.
(2) Restoration of the location of the renewable energy system to its prior condition.
(h) Authority of the Planning Commission. In order to include new market developments and innovations in renewable energy systems that may be developed after the passage of this section, the Planning Commission shall review applications for renewable energy systems not specifically listed in this section as a conditional use us regulated by Section 3 and by applying or modifying the regulations of this section as applicable.
(i) The provisions of this Section 1119.18 do not prohibit solar arrays, solar cells or a solar energy system that are installed in the City on the date of the passage of this section but any future modifications to existing solar arrays, solar cells or a solar energy system must comply with the provisions of this section. Repairs and maintenance of an existing solar array, solar cell or a solar energy system do not constitute a modification of such an array, cellar system.
(Ord. 14-20. Passed 9-8-20.)