The purpose of this article is to establish protocols for the
construction and operation of solar installations in the Town of Coventry,
subject to reasonable conditions that will protect the public health,
safety, and welfare and meet the goals set forth in the Comprehensive
Community Plan.
Except as otherwise stated herein, the following definitions
shall apply to all solar installations in the Town of Coventry.
AREA
The total ground surface area occupied by a solar installation's
solar energy collection components (i.e., solar panels), including
any spaces between that equipment. Where a security fence is required,
the area will be construed to be the area enclosed by the security
fence.
GROUND-MOUNTED
A solar installation that is structurally mounted to the
ground and is not roof-mounted; may be of any size (minor, medium
or major).
MAJOR SOLAR INSTALLATION
A ground-mounted solar installation designed primarily to
generate and sell electricity to a utility company for resale to consumers
that occupies an area of 40,000 square feet or more.
MEDIUM SOLAR INSTALLATION
A ground-mounted solar installation that occupies an area
of more than 1,750 square feet but less than 40,000 square feet.
MINOR SOLAR INSTALLATION
A ground-mounted solar installation designed to primarily
service the property on which it is located and that occupies an area
of 1,750 square feet or less.
ROOF-MOUNTED
A solar installation that is structurally mounted to, or
structurally ballasted on, the roof of a building or structure, including
solar shingles.
SOLAR ACCESS AREA
The area around a solar installation that is required to
be free of structures and vegetation in order to insure that the area
receives direct, unobstructed sunlight without shading.
SOLAR INSTALLATION
A device, system or other structural feature designed, in
whole or in part, to collect, convert, store or distribute solar radiation
as electrical, chemical, mechanical or thermal energy. A solar installation
shall include any structural support, framework, scaffolding, footings,
foundations or other systems used to mount components to the ground
or to another structure and any ancillary wiring, transformers, inverters
or other equipment associated with the collection or distribution
of energy generated by the installation.
Unless otherwise specified herein, the following general requirements apply to all solar installations located in the Town of Coventry except that land owned by the municipality shall be exempt from the requirements of the provisions of this Article
XXI:
A.
All electrical components used in a solar installation shall
be UL-listed or equivalent.
B.
A building permit shall be required for all solar installations
to review and approve the system's components, layout and design.
C.
All solar installations shall be installed by a licensed electrician
in compliance with all local and state building and electrical codes.
D.
Any memorandum of lease, easement, or utility agreement associated
with a solar installation shall be submitted to the Coventry Planning
Department for review and recorded in the Land Evidence Records in
the Town of Coventry upon approval.
E.
Solar installations proposed within any historic district established
pursuant to Coventry's Historical Area Zoning Ordinance and on any
property or structure registered, or proposed for registration, on
the National Register of Historic Places shall be forwarded to the
Coventry Historic District Commission for review and approval in accordance
with applicable historic standards and guidelines.
F.
All properties on which solar installations are located shall
be accessible by emergency vehicles.
G.
All solar installations shall include a well-marked and easily
accessible emergency cut-off designed to stop power generated by the
installation from being distributed to the structure or utility connection
serviced by the installation.
H.
Solar installations shall be cleaned and maintained using only
nontoxic, biodegradable substances.
Roof-mounted solar installations are permitted in all zones
subject to the following requirements:
A.
The solar installation shall not exceed the dimensions of the
plane of the roof to which it is mounted.
B.
The height of roof-mounted solar installations shall be limited
in the same manner as chimneys, antennae or other roof-top mechanical
equipment and appurtenances.
C.
The layout of roof-mounted solar installations shall allow for
all proper clearances from other rooftop penetrations, equipment and
structures and shall allow for safe access to the roof to inspect
and maintain the roof, the solar installation components and other
roof-mounted structures or equipment. In order to maintain this accessibility,
solar installations mounted on top of an existing roof (i.e., solar
panels) shall not be located within three feet of any peak, eave or
valley of the roof. Solar installations that also serve as primary
roofing materials (i.e., solar shingles) shall conform to the manufacturer's
installation instructions.
D.
Solar installations mounted on pitched roofs shall be mounted
flush to the roof.
E.
Solar installations mounted on flat roofs may be angled to a
maximum of 30° from the plane of the roof. Where an angled installation
is visible to surrounding properties such that it significantly detracts
from the aesthetic values of the structure to which it is mounted,
the Planning Department may require the addition of reasonable architectural
screening elements to reduce the visibility of the solar installation
from neighboring properties and roads.
F.
The maximum size/area of roof-mounted solar installations must
be approved by the Building Official based on the dimensional and
structural limitations of the roof to which it is attached.
G.
The Building Official may require a structural analysis of the
roof prepared by a registered professional engineer to establish that
the roof is able to support the additional weight of the solar installation
and that the mounting system/structure will adequately anchor the
solar installation to the roof.
The requirements and standards set forth in this article are
in addition to the requirements of this chapter except where stated.