OCPB agenda 080316 - Laserfiche WebLink

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17 3. Noise These are passive solar panels with no associated noise beyond a barely audible sound during daylight hours. The transformer reportedly has a hum similar to a fluorescent light in an office building that can only be heard in close proximity to this transformer and the buffers on the property are sufficient to make emitted sounds inaudible from the adjoining properties. No sound is emitted from the facility at night. The various solar farms that I have inspected were inaudible from the roadways. I heard nothing on any of these sites associated with the solar farm. 4. Traffic The solar farm will have no onsite employee’s or staff. The site requires only minimal maintenance. Relative to other potential uses of the site (such as a residential subdivision), the additional traffic generated by a solar farm use on this site is insignificant. 5. Stigma There is no stigma associated with solar farms and solar farms and people generally respond favorably towards such a use. While an individual may express concerns about proximity to a solar farm, there is no specific stigma associated with a solar farm. Stigma generally refers to things such as adult establishments, prisons, rehabilitation facilities, and so forth. Solar panels have no associated stigma and in smaller collections are found in yards and roofs in many residential communities. Solar panels on a roof are often cited as an enhancement to the property in marketing brochures. I see no basis for an impact from stigma due to a solar farm. 6. Appearance Larger solar farms using fixed panels are a passive use of the land that is considered in keeping with a rural/residential area. As shown below, solar farms are comparable to larger greenhouses. This is not surprising given that a greenhouse is essentially another method for collecting passive solar energy. The greenhouse use is well received in residential/rural areas and has a similar visual impact as a solar farm. 138