Roof-mounted solar photovoltaic installations.
(1) General requirements.
(a) All photovoltaic systems shall be installed in a structurally safe manner and shall comply with the Massachusetts building, fire safety and wiring codes in addition to this bylaw. When conflicts occur between codes, the more stringent code shall apply.
(b) The installer of photovoltaic power panels must submit plans to the Fire Department and Building Department for review prior to construction.
(2) Permit/site plan requirements. A
building permit shall be required for the installation of all roof-/building-mounted solar photovoltaic installations.
Site plan approval is not required for roof-/building-mounted installations.
Ground-mounted solar photovoltaic installations.
(1) Permit/site plan requirements. A
building permit shall be required for any installation of ground-mounted systems. In addition to a building permit,
site plan approval must also be received from the
Planning Board for a ground-mounted system that occupies greater than 1,000 square feet of ground area.
Development regulations.
(1) Operation and maintenance plan. The project proponent shall submit a plan for the operation and maintenance of the solar photovoltaic installation, which shall include measures for maintaining safe access to the installation, stormwater controls, as well as general procedures for operational maintenance of the installation.
Compliance with laws, bylaws, and regulations.
The construction and operation of all solar photovoltaic installations shall be consistent with all applicable local, state and federal requirements, including but not limited to all applicable safety, construction, electrical, and communications requirements. All use, dimensional and other requirements of the provisions of the Zoning Bylaw governing the underlying zoning districts shall remain in full force and effect, except for a project undergoing development pursuant to this
§ 390-4.8: Solar photovoltaic installations.. For projects developed in accordance with this
§ 390-4.8: Solar photovoltaic installations., where the provisions of the Solar Photovoltaic Installation Bylaw are silent on a zoning regulation, the requirements of the underlying zoning district shall apply unless contrary to the intent of the Solar Photovoltaic Installation Bylaw.
Site plan approval.
(1) Ground-mounted solar photovoltaic installations covering/occupying greater than 1,000 square feet of land shall undergo as-of-right
site plan approval by the
Planning Board in accordance with Article VII of this Zoning Bylaw, prior to construction, installation or modification, as provided in this section. Submittal and plan requirements in support of site plan approval applications for solar photovoltaic installations are stipulated below:
(a) Submission requirements. The following shall be submitted to the Planning Board in support of a proposed solar photovoltaic installation project:
[1] Application: three copies of a site plan approval application form, including a narrative describing the project site, scope of improvements, schedule and a description of how the project satisfies the criteria outline in
§ 390-7.7: Site plan decision and enforcement. of the Zoning Bylaw.
[2] Abutters: a list of all abutters, together with the address of each as determined from the most recent local tax list certified by the Board of Assessors. An abutter is any property owner within 300 feet of the site.
[3] Site plan: an original drawing of the site plan drawn in indelible ink and 10 contact prints. The prints are to be dark line on white background. (The original drawing will be returned after approval or disapproval.) The site plan shall be prepared by an engineer and surveyor and shall be clearly and legibly drawn at a scale of one inch equals 40 feet on a material which is suitable for reproduction. If multiple sheets are used, an index sheet showing the entire site plan shall be provided.
[4] Location plan: a location plan of the site at a scale of one inch equals 200 feet, showing all proposed and existing uses, ways, driveways, buildings, parking and loading areas and their relation to one or more
existing streets.
(b) Site plan contents:
[1] Plan name, property boundaries, true North point, date, scale, and zoning district, along with any zoning district boundaries and overlay districts (i.e., aquifer protection, watershed and floodplain).
[2] Names and addresses of present record owner(s), the applicant, and the architects, engineers and/or surveyors who prepared the plan.
[3] Certificates and seals of the architects, engineers, and/or surveyors who prepared the plan, together with a certificate that all surveying conforms to the requirements of the Massachusetts Land Court.
[4] Suitable space to record the action of the Planning Board and the signatures of the members of the Board on each sheet of the site plan, and the date of such signature.
[5] Existing conditions:
[a] Existing contours at two-foot intervals;
[b] Significant soil types;
[c] Water systems (including standing surface water, brooks or streams, the direction of drainage, wetlands, and the one hundred-year flood elevation);
[d] Trees exceeding five inches in diameter or the perimeter of heavily wooded area;
[e] Stone walls, fences, buildings;
[f] Rock ridges or outcroppings.
[6] Site layout plan showing existing and proposed structures, setbacks to all property lines and structures, height and dimensions of proposed structures, and proposed grading contours.
[7] Plan showing elevation view of structure and one or more perspective renderings indicating materials to be used and visual impact to site and neighborhood. Proposed methods and materials (screening) to minimize negative visual effects to abutting properties and neighborhood shall also be shown.
[8] A locus plan of all land within 1,500 feet of any part of the tract and showing:
[a] All dwellings and principal buildings;
[b] The land use of each lot;
[c] Lot and right-of-way;
[d] Zoning district boundaries;
[e] Recorded easements abutting the tract; and
[f] Public facilities, such as conservation or recreation land, footpaths, bicycle paths, or streets.
(c) In addition to the requirements listed above, the materials listed in this section shall also be included in a site plan approval application for groundmounted solar photovoltaic installations within the Town of Wrentham.
[1] Blueprints or drawings of the solar photovoltaic installation showing the proposed layout of the system;
[2] Documentation of the major system components to be used, including the photovoltaic panels, mounting system, and inverter;
[3] Name, address, and contact information for proposed system installer;
[4] Name, address, and contact information for the project proponent(s);
[5] An operation and maintenance plan;
[6] Evidence of compliance with the Massachusetts Stormwater Standards;
[7] Proof of liability insurance;
[8] All plans and maps shall be prepared, stamped and signed by a professional engineer licensed to practice in Massachusetts.
(2) The Planning Board may, in any particular case, where such action is in the public interest and not inconsistent with the intent and purpose of this bylaw, waive strict compliance with the foregoing requirements. Any such waiver shall require a written request from the applicant and majority vote of the Board.
