Orange County NC Website
Article 5: Uses 33 <br /> Section 5.9: Standards for Utilities <br /> (d) Individual arrays/solar panels shall be designed and located in order to <br /> prevent reflective glare toward any inhabited buildings on adjacent <br /> properties as well as adjacent street rights-of-way. <br /> (e) A clearly visible warning sign concerning voltage must be placed at the <br /> base of all pad-mounted transformers and substations. <br /> (f) All mechanical equipment, including any structure for batteries or storage <br /> cells, shall be completely enclosed by a minimum eight (8) foot high <br /> fence with a self-locking pate, and provided with screening in accordance <br /> with the provisions of Section 6.8. <br /> (g) The applicant shall submit proof of liability insurance covering bodily <br /> injury and property damage demonstrating a minimum coverage limit of$ <br /> 500,000.00 per occurrence. <br /> (h) A Type D Land Use Buffer shall be provided along any portion of the <br /> perimeter of the parcel, easement, or leasehold area located adjacent to <br /> Property zoned, or otherwise utilized for, residential use except where <br /> such property is owned, leased or consists of other utility easements <br /> currently used for electrical distribution or transmission purposes. 2,5 <br /> Existing vegetation may be used to satisfy the landscaping requirements. <br /> (C) Standards for Solar Array—Public Utility(Class A Special Use Permit) <br /> (1) Submittal Requirements <br /> In addition to the information required by Section 2.7, the following shall be <br /> submitted as part of the application: <br /> (a) A site plan showing all existing structures on the property, any <br /> proposed buildings or structures that are necessary to support the <br /> Proposed array, existing and proposed storage areas, parking and <br /> access areas, topography at a contour interval of five feet, any officially <br /> designated floodplains or alluvial soils 2 . <br /> (b) Plans and elevations for all proposed structures and arrays as well as <br /> descriptions of the color and nature of all exterior materials. <br /> (c) Landscape Plan, at the same scale as the site plan, showing existing <br /> and proposed trees, shrubs, ground cover and other landscape material <br /> (d) A soils report denoting the types of soil on the property including detail <br /> on the compaction necessary to support the proposed development. <br /> (2) Standards of Evaluation <br /> (a) All on-site utility and transmission lines shall, to the extent feasible, be <br /> placed underground. <br /> (b) The height of proposed arrays and support structures shall not exceed <br /> 40 feet. <br /> 26 There is some question as to the appropriateness of the proposed land use buffer. The Type D buffer would <br /> require a 50 foot buffer. Some Planning Board members asked if this could be reduced even more. Staff is seeking <br /> BOCC member input. <br /> 27 Additional language added to address concerns made at the August 27,2012 Quarterly Public Hearing.Revised <br /> language denoted with bold text <br /> 28 The height limit for a public utility is different than a solar array-large system due to the purpose and intent of the <br /> development. A solar array-public utility is intended to generate power to serve a local/regional clientele while the <br /> large system is designed to allow for more of a local power usage off-set. Also staff considers a solar array-large <br /> Orange County, North Carolina—Unified Development Ordinance Page 5-80 <br />