Orange County NC Website
Article 5: Uses <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 gate, 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. zrs- <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 reauired 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 � - <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 />laced 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 />