Utilities and communications uses

 

*Lot size must exceed twenty (20) acres.

*Renewable energy - utility scale facility means the equipment and requisite hardware that provide and are used for collecting, transferring, converting, storing, or using renewable resources for water heating, space heating, cooling, generating electricity, and off-loading said electricity to the grid, or other applications that would otherwise require the use of a conventional source of energy such as petroleum products, natural gas, manufactured gas, or electricity produced from a nonrenewable resource. The primary use of a renewable energy utility scale facility is to provide energy for the commercial facility on which said facility is located or to produce energy solely to off-load electricity to the grid. Any excess energy produced by a commercial facility may be off-loaded to the grid.

• • 1. Solar photovoltaic installation - Utility scale facility shall comply with the following:

    • a. No individual panel within a ground-mounted solar photovoltaic installation shall exceed fifteen (15) feet in height, as measured from pre-development lot grade at the location of the panel;

    • b. All panels and other equipment and structures that are part of the installation shall be setback from all property lines as set forth in sections 32-77 and 32-78;

    • c. A ground-mounted solar photovoltaic installation shall not be subject to the floor to area ratio standard (FAR) as set forth in sections 32-77 and 32-78;

    • d. A roof-mounted solar photovoltaic installation shall not exceed the permitted building height as set forth in sections 32-77 and 32-78;

    • e. A ground-mounted solar photovoltaic installation shall be designed to prevent unauthorized access, including, but not necessarily limited to protective fencing.

  • 2. The Zoning Board of Review may not grant a permit or variance unless it finds, in writing, that:

    • a. The construction of a solar photovoltaic installation - utility scale facility shall be allowed pursuant to this use table if the use complies with all requirements set forth in this chapter. All such facilities shall be constructed and operated in a manner that minimizes any adverse visual, safety, and environmental impacts;

    • b. The specific site is an appropriate location for such use;

    • c. The use will not adversely affect the neighborhood;

    • d. There will not be any serious hazard to pedestrians or vehicles from the use;

    • e. No nuisance will be created by the use; and

    • f. Adequate and appropriate facilities will be provided for the proper operation of the use.

* Additional special use permit requirements are as follows:

• • (1) Site plan review and recommendation from the Planning Board is required.

  • (2) Setbacks of sixty (60) feet, with thirty (30) feet of natural screening vegetated pollenating species buffer or landscaped or fencing screening of eight (8) feet height minimum.

  • (3) Minimum parcel size of no less than twenty (20) acres.

  • (4) Subject to application requirements, design standards and operation standards.

Application requirements: Solar energy utility scale facility.

For solar energy utility scale facility special use permit approval, the following is required, which supplements, and does not supplant, the other requirements of this section:

• • A. A site plan, stamped and signed by a professional engineer licensed to practice in Rhode Island depicting the following:

    • 1. Property lines and physical features, including roads, for the project site.

    • 2. Proposed clearing of natural vegetation.

    • 3. Location of wetlands and evidence of compliance with any local, state or federal requirements.

    • 4. Proposed layout of the system and any potential shading from nearby structures.

    • 5. Proposed screening consisting of natural plantings or landscaping designed to screen the installation but not impede its solar energy capture efficiency. A newly landscaped vegetative buffer shall consist of plants from the Rhode Island native plant database and the plan shall be prepared by a registered landscaped architect.

  • B. Supplementary information, including:

    • 1. Documentation of actual or prospective access and control of the project site sufficient to allow for the construction and operation of the proposed energy system.

    • 2. Name, address, signature and contact information for the project applicant, co- applicant or any agent representing the applicant's proposed system installer.

    • 3. One (1) or three (3) line electrical diagrams detailing the solar photovoltaic installation, associated components and electrical interconnection methods with all state electrical code compliant disconnects and overcurrent devices shall be shown on the plans.

    • 4. Documentation of the major system components to be used, including the electric generating photovoltaic panels, mounting system and inverter shall be provided, including applicable Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS).

    • 5. A list of any hazardous materials proposed to be located on the site in excess of household quantities, and a plan to prevent their release to the environment, including applicable Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS).

    • 6. A cost estimate for decommissioning, including a statement of the methodology utilized in computing the estimate.

    • 7. A rendering or photo simulation showing the proposed completed project.

    • 8. An emergency response plan including all means of shutting down the solar installation. The applicant shall provide the name of the contact person throughout the life of the installation annually with the first quarter tax payment. The name of the designated individual shall be kept current and on file with the building official and the Warren Fire Department.

    • 9. If any hazardous materials are utilized within the solar photovoltaic equipment, impervious containment areas capable of controlling any release to the environment are required.

    • 10. The applicant shall submit a plan for the operation and maintenance of the installation for approval. The plan shall include measures for:

      • a. Safe access- also requires approval from the Warren Fire Chief.

      • b. Fire safety- also requires approval from the Warren Fire Chief.

      • c. Stormwater control.

      • d. Structural repairs.

      • e. Integrity of security measures.

      • f. Removal and revegetation of the property if the installation is decommissioned.

(Amd. of 1-9-18; Amd. of 12-10-19)