[Added 6-11-2012 by Ord. No. 12-04]
A.
Purpose, intent and scope. The purpose of this article is to regulate
the placement and use of alternative solar photovoltaic energy facilities
so as to be consistent with local land use goals and objectives of
the Township of Knowlton.
B.
Requirements for minor and major/solar or photovoltaic energy facilities.
(1)
Minor solar or photovoltaic energy facilities or structures
shall be permitted as an accessory use in all zoning districts in
the Township subject to the following standards:
(a)
Solar panels shall be permitted as a rooftop installation provided
that no part of the solar panel or associated equipment shall exceed
a height of eight inches above the roof surface if installed on a
sloped roof or three feet if installed on a flat roof. In no event
shall the placement of the solar panels result in a greater total
height including building and panels than that which is permitted
in the zoning district where the panels are located.
(b)
Solar panels shall be permitted as ground arrays in accordance
with the following:
(c)
Ground arrays shall not exceed a height of eight feet if constructed
over gravel, concrete or other impervious surface and shall not exceed
a height of 12 feet if constructed over grass.
(d)
If natural screening does not exist, evergreen screening shall
be planted to provide a visual buffer as necessary from the street
view or adjacent properties, installed at a minimum height of eight
feet, with appropriate plant species and in a design as required by
the approving Board. The buffer shall be planted in such a manner
that it does not impair the functionality of the system.
(e)
All electrical wires servicing a ground-mounted solar system,
other than the wires necessary to interconnect the solar panels and
the grounding wires, shall be located underground.
(f)
The design of solar energy systems shall, to the extent reasonably
possible, use materials, colors, textures, screening and landscaping
that will blend into the natural setting and existing environment.
(g)
The installation of a solar energy system shall be in compliance
with the National Electric Code as adopted by the New Jersey Department
of Community Affairs.
(h)
Energy systems that connect to the electric utility shall comply
with the New Jersey Net Metering and Interconnection Standards for
Class I Renewable Energy Systems and as required by the electric utility
servicing the parcel.
(2)
Major solar or photovoltaic energy facilities or structures
shall be permitted as a conditional use in the C-2, PCD and FP Zone
Districts in the Township of Knowlton except as modified by statute.
All major solar or photovoltaic energy facilities or structures shall
comply with the following conditional use standards:
(a)
Minimum lot size shall be 25 acres except as modified by statute.
(b)
No major solar or photovoltaic energy facilities and structures
shall occupy areas of land containing prime farmland and farmlands
of statewide significance as identified by the USDA Natural Resources
Conservation Service.
(c)
Major solar or photovoltaic energy facilities and structures
shall not occupy areas of land designated by the NJDEP as critical
habitat for state threatened and/or endangered species of flora and
fauna or any areas of species of special concern.
(d)
No portion of major solar or photovoltaic energy facilities
and structures shall occupy areas of land designated by NJDEP as floodplains,
flood hazard areas, wetlands, wetland transition areas or riparian
corridors. A three-hundred-foot buffer shall be maintained between
NJDEP designated Category One waters.
(e)
Major solar or photovoltaic energy facilities and structures
shall not occupy any area beyond the required principal building setbacks
for the zone in which the facility is to be located and they shall
not be located within 200 feet of a residential structure on an adjacent
lot.
(f)
Major solar or photovoltaic energy facilities and structures
shall be screened from the public traveled way, open space, preserved
farmland and historic resources or from adjoining residential uses
or zones, with said screening by a combination of berms, landscaping
and fencing.
(g)
Permitted height: the maximum permitted vertical height above
ground for solar energy panels shall be 12 feet.
(h)
All electrical wires servicing a ground-mounted solar system,
other than the wires necessary to interconnect the solar panels and
the grounding wires, shall be located underground.
(i)
To minimize adverse impacts on the productivity and future use
of the soil it is preferred that ground-mounted solar system supports
be attached to the ground by a screw, piling or similar system that
does not require a concrete footing or other permanent mounting.
[1]
However, in the event that the method above of
mounting the solar photovoltaic panels is not practicable, then written
justification shall be provided by a licensed professional engineer
responsible for designing the installation of the solar photovoltaic
panels that a permanent ground mounting is necessary to conform with
federal or state laws, rules or regulations and that the permanent
mounting requires footings, concrete or other permanent methods.
(j)
The design of solar energy systems shall, to the extent reasonably
possible, use materials, colors, textures, screening and landscaping
that will blend into the natural setting and existing environment.
(k)
The installation of a solar energy system shall be in compliance
with the National Electric Code as adopted by the New Jersey Department
of Community Affairs.
(l)
Energy systems that connect to the electric utility shall comply
with the New Jersey Net Metering and Interconnection Standards for
Class I Renewable Energy Systems and as required by the electric utility
servicing the parcel.
(m)
Maintenance, soil stabilization. A maintenance plan shall be
submitted for the continuing maintenance of all plantings. All ground
areas occupied by the major solar or energy facility or structure
installation that are not utilized for access driveways shall be planted
and maintained with low maintenance sun and shade tolerant grasses
for the purpose of soil stabilization. The "OVN" seed mixture provided
through the South Jersey Farmers Exchange (856-769-0062) is suitable
for these purposes. It is a mixture of 40% perennial rye grass, 30%
creeping fescue and 30% chewing fescue applied at a rate of five pounds
per 1,000 square feet.
(n)
Berm, landscaping, fence requirements. A landscaped berm shall
be provided not less than 25 feet in width and of sufficient height
to totally obscure any view of all solar energy facilities and structures
from adjacent properties and roadways at the time such facilities
and structures are placed in service.
(o)
A grading and drainage plan shall be submitted under the seal
of a licensed professional engineer and shall provide the details
to adequately demonstrate to the reviewing agency that no stormwater
runoff or natural water shall be so diverted as to overload existing
drainage systems or create flooding. Calculations shall be provided
to adequately demonstrate that existing preconstruction stormwater
drainage velocities shall not be exceeded in the post-development
condition.
(p)
Major solar energy facilities and structures shall not result
in reflective glare as viewed from second story level (20 feet above
ground) on adjoining properties.
(q)
The noise level generated by a major solar energy facility at
any receiving residential property shall not exceed a maximum A-weighted
sound level of 50dB.
(r)
Requirement for engineered drawings. Site plans and zoning permit
applications for solar energy systems shall be accompanied by standard
drawings of the solar panels, inverters, substations and any other
required structures. The design shall be signed and sealed by a professional
engineer, registered in the State of New Jersey, certifying that the
design complies with all of the standards set forth in all applicable
codes then in effect in the State of New Jersey and all sections referred
to hereinabove.
(s)
All photovoltaic facilities including all solar arrays and associated
equipment shall be dismantled and removed promptly after 180 continuous
days of non-use. Applicants shall be required to submit a decommissioning
plan at time of site plan approval.
