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Article 5: Uses <br />Section 5.9: Standards for Utilities <br />(f) Panels shall be designed and oriented on the property such that <br />concentrated solar radiation or glare shall not be directed onto nearby <br />properties or road rights -of -way, or otherwise create a safety hazard. <br />(g) As part of the site plan submittal the applicant shall be required to <br />submit documentation detailing the proposed array will not alter, or <br />require alteration of, any condition imposed as part of a previous <br />approval allowing for the development and use of the property.' <br />(h) All mechanical equipment associated with, and necessary for, the <br />operation of the array shall be shielded to avoid damage. This <br />shieldinq may take the form of a small enclosed structure properly <br />vented to allow for air flow, fence, or landscape hedge. z'- <br />(i) Mechanical equipment shall not be located within the required setback <br />areas for the underlying zoning district as detailed within Article 3 or <br />within required landscaped areas as required under Section 6.8. <br />(i) Before commencement of earth disturbing activities, the property owner <br />must acknowledge that he /she is the responsible party for owning and <br />ensuring the perpetual maintenance of the solar array. <br />f k) In cases where a solar array has not been in operation for a period <br />of 6 months due to a malfunction or other defect the property owner <br />shall affect repair(s) to the system within 30 days of notice from the <br />County in accordance with Section 9.5 of the UDO. <br />In cases were the array has been deemed unsafe it shall be <br />removed or repaired immediately in accordance with Section 9.5.5 <br />of the UDO. z <br />(2) Standards for Building Mounted Devices: <br />a) An arrav may be mounted on the roof of a principal or an accesso <br />structure located on the property. <br />(b) The array shall be viewed as an extension of the roof structure and, as a <br />result, shall not exceed the maximum building height detailed within <br />Article 3 for the underlying zoning district where the property is located. <br />(c) As part of the building permit review process, structural engineering shall <br />be grovided demonstrating the roof can support the weight of the <br />proposed array. <br />(3) Standards for Ground Mounted Devices: <br />(a) Ground mounted system shall not exceed a maximum height of 15 feet <br />from finished grade.�t <br />(b) The surface area of a ground mounted system, regardless of the <br />mounted angle, shall be calculated as part of the overall impervious <br />20 Modified to address concerns articulated at the August 27, 2012 Quarterly Public Hearing. Revised language <br />denoted with bold text. <br />21 Modified to address concerns articulated at the August 27, 2012 Quarterly Public Hearing. Revised language <br />denoted with bold text and eliminates proposed fence height requirements and hedge standards. <br />22 This was formerly Section 5.9.6 (1) 0) of the August 27, 2012 Quarterly Public Hearing package. It has been <br />renumbered due to previous formatting modifications. During the hearing concern was expressed over the proposed <br />language being too vague. The revision, denoted with bold text, attempts to address those concerns. <br />23 There is some concern among Planning Board and Commissioner for the Environment members that a 15 foot <br />height limit is too small, specifically this would limit the angle of the array to a point where it might not be able to <br />function properly. This viewpoint was also articulated at the August 27, 2012 Quarterly Public Hearing. Staff <br />believes the proposed height limit is sufficient and would allow for the erection of an array that would be able to <br />function properly. <br />Orange County, North Carolina -- Unified Development Ordinance Page 5 -78 <br />