For an accessory use REF, the system shall not be for the generation
of power for residential or commercial purposes in excess of that
needed for the principal use; this provision shall not be interpreted
to prohibit the sale of excess power generated from time to time from
a wind or solar energy system designed to meet the energy needs of
the principal use.
For an accessory use REF, the sale of excess power shall be limited
so that in no event is an energy system generating more energy for
sale than what is otherwise necessary to power the principal use on
the property.
Wind renewable energy systems shall be permitted as a principal or
accessory use on lots larger than 20 acres and located in industrial
zones only and with requirements as provided herein.
Solar and photovoltaic systems are permitted in all zones. Systems
are permitted to be ground mounted and roof mounted, principal or
accessory structures, with requirements as provided herein.
All energy systems require approval from the Zoning Officer and construction
office prior to receiving a building permit. Applications for an energy
system shall include information demonstrating compliance with the
provisions of this chapter. In the event that the Zoning Officer or
construction office does not believe the provisions of this chapter
will be satisfied, an applicant may request a variance.
Site plan required. Roof-mounted solar energy systems, whether for
residential or nonresidential uses, shall not require a plan approval
from the Board; however, all residential ground-mounted solar energy
systems shall require plan review from the Board, with public notice;
all ground-mounted solar energy systems serving nonresidential uses
and all wind energy systems shall require site plan approval.
There shall be no signs posted on any renewable energy facility or
any associated building or structure, except for the manufacturer's
or installer's identification, appropriate warning signs, or owner
identification. No such signs shall be of a size which is able to
be read from a public road or abutting property.
Wind energy systems and principal use ground-mounted solar energy
systems shall have the electrical and control equipment labeled and
secured to prevent unauthorized access.
Any wind energy system shall be designed and installed so as
not to provide ladder, step bolts, or other publicly accessible means
of climbing the tower, for a minimum height of eight feet above the
ground.
Sound levels from the facility in or abutting a residential
use or zone shall not exceed 40 dBA at a common property line during
the daytime and 55 dBA at night.
Roof-mounted systems shall not be permitted to have the support structure
to be a height greater than 12 inches above the roof unless the structure
has a parapet which will screen the support structure.
The finished height of the roof-mounted array may not exceed the
maximum principal or accessory building height applicable for the
zone district in which the property is located.
Ground-mounted systems which exceed 5% of the lot area shall provide
two times the minimum yard setback requirements for principal structures.
However, in no case shall the setback be less than 40 feet.
Ground systems which cover 5% or less of the lot area shall provide
two times the minimum yard setback requirements for accessory uses.
However, in no case shall the setback be less than 30 feet.
Landscaping of the setback area shall be sufficient to achieve a
visual screen of the array, to the greatest extent feasible. See Landscaping
in Buffer Areas.[1]
Security. All inverters, transformers and such other system components
that are designed to convert or modify electric current, or transmit
electric flow to the transmission or distribution system shall be
secured by one of the following methods:
Other than footings, which may be computed as impervious cover, systems
shall not be counted in the calculation of maximum impervious cover,
unless the area under the equipment consists of an impervious material
layer, such as pavement or stone.
The design of the ground-mounted system shall comply with all Township
stormwater, grading, and soil disturbance regulations, and the applicant
shall take appropriate measures to prevent a concentrated flow of
runoff.
Ground-mounted systems shall provide one or more of the following
beneath the structures: grasses or agricultural area for crops or
grazing farm animals.
For projects over 20 kilowatts, the location and elevations
and design details of all transmission lines, support structures and
attachments to a substation(s).
The tower shall be designed and installed so as not to provide step
bolts, a ladder, or other publicly accessible means of climbing the
tower, for a minimum height of eight feet above the ground.
Written description of the system, describing the system's provisions
as cited in the purpose of the renewable energy facility ordinance,
identified in this section;[1]
A wind tower and generator shall be set back a minimum distance of
150% of the system height from all property lines. However, the setback
to a residential use or zone district shall conform to the above,
but shall be no less than 200 feet.
Substations shall be set back a minimum of 150 feet from a property
line. However, the setback to a residential use or residential zone
district shall be no less than 200 feet.
The wind generator and the tower shall be a neutral color that is
appropriate for its location and will allow the tower to be as unobtrusive
as possible, unless otherwise required by the FAA.
Small wind energy systems that connect to the electric utility shall
comply with the New Jersey's Net Metering and Interconnection Standards
for Class 1 Renewable Energy Systems at N.J.A.C. 14:4-9.
No portion of the wind generator or turbine shall be set back at
such a distance to be able to fall into a public right-of-way or across
a property line.
The wind generator and the tower shall be a neutral color that is
appropriate for its location and will allow the tower to be as unobtrusive
as possible, unless otherwise required by the FAA.
All landscaping, as installed, shall conform to and be in accordance
with the plan approved and signed by the Board. Prior to the issuance
of a permanent certificate of occupancy, completion or compliance
(whichever is applicable) and prior to the release of any performance
guarantee, the landscaping shall be installed and a two-year maintenance
guarantee in a form acceptable to the Township Attorney shall be posted
in an amount acceptable to the Township Engineer. If the applicant
applies for a certificate of occupancy during a nonplanting season,
the applicant may obtain a temporary certificate of occupancy without
installation of the landscaping, but if the applicant posts a performance
guarantee in a form acceptable to the governing body and in an amount
acceptable to the Township Engineer guaranteeing installation of the
landscaping during the next planting season and further guaranteeing
the subsequent posting of a two-year maintenance guarantee. The applicant
shall have a continuing obligation to maintain all landscaping for
its intended purpose (i.e., for screening if planted for buffering
purposes or for aesthetics if planted for enhancement purposes), which
shall include but not be limited to repairing and/or replanting to
the satisfaction of the Township Planner/Engineer any and all landscaping
that becomes damaged and/or dies. (This continuing maintenance obligation
is in addition to, and notwithstanding, the fact that a maintenance
guarantee may or may not be required in any particular application.)
In the event that the Township Zoning Officer determines that utilization
of an outside expert (e.g., landscape architectural expert) is necessary
to fulfill the intent of this section, all reasonable costs and expenses
of such outside experts shall be reimbursed to the Township by the
applicant.
Where visual screening is feasible, landscape buffers must be sufficient
to ensure seventy-five-percent screening within three years and one-hundred-percent
screening within five years.
Wind energy systems and substations shall be screened from view as
follows: A dense or impervious visual screen of a combination of plantings,
fence and/or earthen berm shall be provided with a height of eight
feet, with evergreen plantings 10 feet on center. A fifty-foot-wide
landscape visual screen shall separate such equipment from property
lines. Fencing will be permitted only where installation of a berm
is not feasible.
For ground-mounted solar energy systems, a dense or impervious visual
screen of a combination of plantings, or earthen berm shall be provided
to be maintained at the design height of the ground-mounted support
structure. A landscape or impervious visual screen shall separate
such facilities from properties in and abutting residential zones
and uses to the greatest extent feasible. Existing vegetation may
be credited for buffer if it achieves a year-round visual screen.
The width of the buffer is dependent upon the minimum required width
needed to achieve visual screening.
Fencing may be required where deemed by the approving Board to be
necessary for health, safety or welfare and where unique circumstances
prevent a landscaped buffer.
A decommissioning plan will be submitted, for approval by the Municipal
Engineer, for all renewable energy facilities that require Board review.
This plan will outline the requirements below and assure that the
facility will be dismantled and describe how the land will be returned
to its natural state, including grading and vegetation. The decommissioning
plan shall specify a time schedule to fully decommission the facility
once there has been abandonment, but in no event shall exceed 180
days. A demolition permit shall be secured for decommissioning. A
performance bond shall be posted to assure that the entire facility
will be removed and the land will be restored.
The Township may issue a notice of abandonment to the owner of a
renewable energy facility that is deemed to have been abandoned. The
notice shall be sent return receipt requested, indicating that the
owner must actively pursue the requirements of the decommissioning
of the facility.
If the owner provides information that demonstrates the renewable
energy facility has not been abandoned, the Township shall withdraw
the notice of abandonment and notify the owner that the notice has
been withdrawn.
If the designated Township official determines that the renewable
energy facility has been abandoned, the owner of the wind energy system
shall remove the renewable energy facility at the owner's sole expense
within 180 days after the owner receives the notice of abandonment,
in accordance with the decommissioning plan, if a plan has been submitted.
In the event that the applicant fails to remove the renewable energy
facility, the Township and/or its employees and/or contractors may
enter the property to remove the renewable energy facility (but shall
not be obligated to remove same) and, in the event that the Township
performs the removal, all costs and expenses of such removal shall
be reimbursed to the Township by the applicant. In the event the applicant
fails to reimburse the Township, the Township may place a lien on
the property in the amount of the costs and expenses of said removal
and, in the event that the Township incurs any additional costs and
expenses in enforcing the lien and/or collecting the money owed, the
applicant shall be obligated to reimburse the Township for the additional
costs and expenses, including reasonable attorneys' fees.