Orange County NC Website
41 <br /> 1 thinks the 10 kilowatt limit is arbitrary. Regarding the size, technology is changing rapidly, so <br /> 2 smaller panels are able to generate more electricity. He thinks that the ordinance should be <br /> 3 looser and able to evolve with the technology. <br /> 4 <br /> 5 Pete Hallenbeck said that he has a 7500 watt solar panel array for use at his house. He <br /> 6 said that a 10 kilowatt array is approximately a 50-foot long by 12-foot wide footprint. It would <br /> 7 stand approximately 9-10 feet tall. The 15 feet came from the fact that you may wish to raise <br /> 8 the panels up to maintain the ground underneath. The 10 kilowatt limit comes from the fact that <br /> 9 with Piedmont Electric, they will only give net metering if you are 10 kilowatts or less. He <br /> 10 suggested that instead of having a kilowatt specification, then it could be the limit from the <br /> 11 power company where there will be net metering. With regard to item `j' on page 23, he would <br /> 12 suggest that it could be cleaned up to say that if it is not working for six months, it has to be <br /> 13 dealt with, and if it is unsafe, it should be dealt with faster than six months. <br /> 14 <br /> 15 Larry Wright said that the front yard restriction does not conform to each situation. He <br /> 16 suggested looking at this because there is a lot of property in Orange County that is rural. <br /> 17 <br /> 18 A motion was made by Commissioner Jacobs, seconded by Commissioner Hemminger <br /> 19 to receive the proposed amendments as detailed in this abstract and attachments; refer the <br /> 20 matter to the Planning Board with a request that a recommendation be returned to the BOCC in <br /> 21 time for the November 8, 2012 BOCC regular meeting; and adjourn the public hearing until <br /> 22 November 8, 2012 in order to receive and accept the Planning Board's recommendation and <br /> 23 any submitted written comments; with the additional stipulation that the Board of County <br /> 24 Commissioners receive information on the rationale behind restricting accessory uses in the <br /> 25 front yard, and that this be part of the discussion when a recommendation comes back from the <br /> 26 Planning Board. <br /> 27 <br /> 28 VOTE: UNANIMOUS <br /> 29 <br /> 30 Commissioner Yuhasz suggested that the front yard issue be addressed particularly with <br /> 31 regards to the size of the lot. <br /> 32 <br /> 33 <br />