A. The Village has adopted this regulation to achieve the following goals:
B. To preserve the health, safety, and welfare of the Village's citizens by promoting the safe, effective, and efficient use of active solar energy systems installed to reduce the consumption of fossil fuels.
C. Setbacks: All solar energy systems operated as a principal use must meet the setback for the zoning district and primary land use associated with the lot on which the system is located.
D. Plan Approval Required: All solar energy systems allowed as permitted uses shall require administrative plan approval by the building official via the review of the application for an accessory permit.
E. Utility Notification: All grid-connected solar energy systems shall comply with the interconnection requirements of the electric utility. An interconnection agreement must be completed with the electric utility in whose service territory the system is located prior to issuance of a building permit.
F. Solar gardens are subject to the Village's storm water management and erosion and sediment control provisions and NPDES permit requirements.
G. A qualified engineer shall certify that the foundation and design of the solar mounting devices are within accepted development standards, given local soil and climate conditions.
H. All solar energy systems shall be designed to generate enough power for each residence or building and no additional power.
I. All solar energy systems shall be designed to be screened from routine view from public rights-of-way and residential uses on adjacent parcels. The commercial solar energy system shall be set back from the screening device or landscaping so as to not affect the operation of the system.
J. All solar energy systems shall be designed and installed to prohibit light reflection towards adjacent rights-of-way and any habitable portion of nearby structures that are not integrated into the system.
K. All solar energy systems shall be installed on the roof of a structure or in the form of a solar tree.
L. Power and communication lines running between banks of solar panels shall be buried underground. Power and communication lines running to nearby electric substations or interconnections with buildings shall be buried underground to the extent practicable, subject to utility requirements.
M. A detailed site plan for both existing and proposed conditions must be submitted, showing location of all solar arrays, other structures, property lines, zoning and uses of adjacent property, rights-of-way, service roads, floodplains, wetlands and other protected natural resources, topography, electric equipment, and all other characteristics requested by the Village. (Ord. 737, 11-7-2022)