[Added 6-23-2014 by Ord. No. 2014-03]
A.
Whereas, the primary purpose of a wind or solar energy system will
be to provide power for the principal use of the property whereon
said system is to be located and shall not be for the generation of
power for commercial sale purposes, although this provision shall
not be interpreted to prohibit the sale of excess power generated
from time to time from a wind or solar energy system designed to meet
the energy needs of the principal use on the property. For the purposes
of this article, the sale of excess power shall be limited so that
in no event an energy system is generating more energy for sale than
what is otherwise necessary to power the principal use on the property.
B.
Whereas, wind and solar energy systems shall only be permitted as
an accessory use on the same lot as the principal use. Wind energy
systems shall require a site plan approval from the Land Use Board.
All applications shall demonstrate that the wind velocity and conditions
at the proposed location will be suitable for the generation of electricity.
All energy systems require approval from the Zoning Officer and Construction
Official prior to installation. All applications for an energy system
shall include appropriate information demonstrating compliance with
this chapter, including a record of the electric usage for the principal
use on the property for the previous year. In the event that the Zoning
Officer or Construction Official does not agree that the provisions
of this chapter will be satisfied, an applicant may apply to the Land
Use Board for an interpretation or variance as necessary.
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
Solar panels and all associated equipment that collect, store
and distribute solar energy for heating, cooling or electricity generating.
A structure containing one or more receptive cells, the purpose
of which is to convert solar energy into useable electrical energy
through the use of solar panels.
A monopole, freestanding or guyed structure that supports
a wind generator.
A wind turbine and all associated equipment, including a
base, blade, foundation, nacelle, rotor, tower, transformer, vane,
wire, inverter, batteries, or other components necessary to fully
utilize the wind generator.
Equipment that converts energy from the wind into electricity.
This term includes rotor, blades and associated mechanical and electrical
conversion components necessary to generate, store and/or transfer
energy.
A.
Residential zones. Wind turbines are permitted in all residential
zone districts subject to the following:
(1)
Minimum lot size shall be 10 acres. No more than one wind turbine
per lot. Lot averaging shall not be permitted for installation of
more than one wind turbine.
(2)
Minimum setbacks. All wind turbines shall be set back from all
property lines a minimum distance equal to 100% of the height of the
structure, including blades. Guy lines used to support the tower may
not encroach into any setbacks.
(3)
Wind turbines, support equipment and/or guy wires shall not
be permitted in the front yard.
(4)
Mechanical equipment and buildings provided for storage of materials
and equipment shall conform to the standards for an accessory structure
within the applicable zone.
(5)
Maximum height for a wind turbine shall not exceed a height
of 80 feet, including the height of the blades at their highest point.
(6)
Wind turbines shall not be permitted as rooftop installations.
(7)
Wind turbines on residential properties shall have a nameplate
capacity of 100 kilowatts or less.
B.
Nonresidential zones. Wind turbines are permitted in all nonresidential
zone districts, subject to the bulk requirements of the district and
the following:
(1)
Minimum lot size shall be 10 acres. No more than one wind turbine
shall be permitted per lot. Lot averaging shall not be permitted for
installation of more than one wind turbine.
(2)
The maximum height for a wind turbine shall not exceed 120 feet,
including the height of the blades at their highest point.
(3)
Minimum setbacks. All wind turbines shall be set back from all
property lines a distance equal to 100% of the height of the turbine,
including the blades. Guy wires used to support the tower may not
encroach into any setbacks.
(4)
If there is a principal structure on the lot, no wind turbines,
support equipment and/or guy wires shall be permitted in the front
area of the principal structure.
(5)
Mechanical equipment and buildings provided for storage of materials
and equipment shall conform to the standards for an accessory structure
within the applicable zone.
(6)
Wind turbines shall not be permitted as a rooftop installation.
(7)
Wind turbines on nonresidential properties shall have a nameplate
capacity of 100 kilowatts or less.
C.
All wind energy systems shall comply with the following requirements:
(1)
Sound levels of the wind energy system shall not exceed 55 dBA
at a common property line. These levels may be exceeded during short-term
events such as utility outages and/or severe storms.
(2)
Wind turbines shall be designated with an automatic brake or
other similar device to prevent over-speeding and excessive pressure
on the tower structure.
(3)
Wind energy systems shall not be artificially lighted except
to the extent required by the FAA or other applicable authority.
(4)
All ground-mounted electrical and control equipment shall be
labeled and secured to prevent unauthorized access.
(5)
Wind energy systems shall be designed to prevent interference
with any television, radio, or electronic reception or transmission
and shall be in compliance with any federal, state or county regulations.
(6)
The tower shall be designed and installed so as not to provide
step bolts, a ladder, or other publicly accessible means of climbing
the tower for a minimum of 10 feet above the ground level.
(7)
All moving parts of the wind energy system shall be a minimum
of 25 feet above the ground level.
(8)
The blades of the wind energy system shall be constructed of
a corrosive-resistant material.
(9)
A clearly marked manual shut-off switch for the electricity
from the wind energy system shall be installed in close proximity
to the meter on the exterior of the principal structure.
(10)
New Jersey Department of Transportation, Division of Aeronautics
and/or FAA approval or jurisdictional determination for the monopole
shall be obtained by applicant.
A.
Rooftop solar systems.
(1)
Solar panels shall be permitted as a rooftop installation in
any zoning district. The solar panels shall not exceed a height of
12 inches from the rooftop. The height of the solar panels shall not
be included in any calculations for total building height.
(2)
Panels installed in a rooftop configuration must be installed
not more than one foot beyond the actual boundaries or edges of the
roof.
(3)
A clearly marked manual shut-off switch for the electricity
from the solar panels shall be installed in close proximity to the
meter on the exterior of the principal structure.
(4)
An official National Electric Code (N.E.C.) placard, stating
there are solar panels on the principal structure, shall be placed
near the front entrance of the structure.
B.
Ground-mount solar panel systems.
(1)
Ground arrays shall not be permitted in the front yard.
(2)
Ground arrays shall be set back a minimum of 20 feet from side
or rear property lines in all residential zones or in conformance
with the required setbacks for accessory structures in nonresidential
zones.
(3)
Ground arrays shall be located to minimize any glare towards
an adjoining property.
(4)
Ground arrays shall not exceed a height of 15 feet.
(5)
Ground arrays shall not be permitted in the R-0.5 Zone or on
any lot that is 0.5 acre or less.
(6)
A ground array system shall not add, contribute to or be calculated
to cause an increase in impervious coverage for the purposes of conforming
to zone standards.
(7)
A clearly marked shut-off switch for the electricity from the
solar panels shall be installed in close proximity to the meter on
the exterior of the principal structure.
(8)
Ground arrays shall be screened and/or landscaped to shield
the system when viewed from the street and/or adjacent properties.
(a)
The recommended distance and planting material is identified
in Figure A attached.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Figure A is included as an attachment to this chapter.
(b)
Where natural evergreen or dense deciduous screening is already
in existence, no additional screening shall be required between the
property line(s) and the ground arrays.
(c)
Screening is not required between the ground array and the principal
structure located on the same lot as the array if it is completely
shielded from the front, rear and side property lines.
C.
The provisions in this article do not apply to the installation of
decorative solar pathway lights that do not provide power for another
use or structure.
D.
All solar energy systems shall meet all National Electric Code (N.E.C.)
requirements.
A.
Wind and solar energy systems shall not be used for displaying or advertising except for the labeling information noted in Subsection F below.
B.
The design of wind or solar energy systems shall, to the extent reasonably
possible, use materials, colors, textures, screening and landscaping
that will blend the facility into the natural setting and existing
environment.
C.
The wind or solar energy system shall be located so that tree removal
is not required to the extent reasonably possible.
D.
All electric lines and utility wires shall be installed underground.
E.
The installation of a wind or solar energy system shall conform to
the requirements of the electric utility company for interconnection
as the case may dictate.
F.
A minimum of one sign shall be posted near ground level on the interconnection
cabinet warning of high voltage. In addition, the following information
shall be posted on a label or labels installed at the site:
G.
Systems that connect to the electric utility shall comply with the
New Jersey net metering and interconnection standards for Class I
renewable energy systems at N.J.A.C. 14:4-9.[1] Systems shall not be installed to generate more electricity
than needed for the principal use on the property.
[1]
Editor's Note: See N.J.A.C. 14:8-4.1 et seq.
H.
A wind or solar energy system that is out of service for a continuous
twelve-month period shall be deemed to have been abandoned.
(1)
The Zoning Officer may issue a notice of abandonment to the
owner. The notice shall be sent via regular mail and certified mail,
return receipt requested, to the owner of record.
(2)
Any abandoned system shall be removed at the owner's sole expense
within six months of the date on the notice of abandonment from the
Zoning Officer. Prior to removal, the owner shall obtain a demolition
permit from the Construction Official. Upon removal, the site shall
be cleaned, restored and landscaped to blend with the existing surrounding
vegetation at the time of the removal.
(3)
The Zoning Officer may issue a summons to the owner for failure
to remove the abandoned system as requested in the notice of abandonment.
(4)
When the owner of the wind or solar energy system had been notified
to remove same and has not removed the system within six months after
receiving the notice, the Township may pursue legal action to have
the system removed at the owner's expense.
(5)
Solar panels removed from the site shall be deposited at a recognized
solar panel recycling center. Panels that are not recycled must be
disposed of in accordance with the New Jersey Department of Environmental
Protection or U.S. Environmental Protection Agency requirements.
I.
A zoning permit and building permit shall be required for the installation
of a wind or solar energy system. Site plan approval shall also be
required for a wind energy system installation. Documents required
for a zoning permit shall include the following:
(1)
Property survey.
(2)
Location, dimensions (including height) of existing major structures
on the property.
(3)
Location, dimensions and type of proposed energy system, including
all structures accessory to the system.
(4)
Manufacturer's energy system specifications, including make
and model.
(5)
Proof of notification to the electric utility company for interconnection
purposes.
(6)
Certification from a professional engineer and/or the installation
company that the proposed installation is in compliance with manufacturer's
guidelines.
(7)
Other documents and plans containing enough information concerning
installation of the system for the Zoning Officer to make a formal
decision concerning conformance with the article standards. The amount
and accuracy of information provided shall be in the judgment of the
Zoning Officer.
(8)
Statement from applicant that installation will comply with
all environmental guidelines.
(9)
Application shall include a current photograph of the site where
the proposed system is to be installed.
J.
No wind or solar energy system shall be permitted on any government-designated
historical zone or structure.
K.
If a section, paragraph, subdivision, clause or provision of the
article shall be judged invalid, such adjudication shall apply only
to that section, paragraph, subdivision, clause or provision, and
the remainder of this article shall be deemed valid and effective.
A.
It is unlawful for any person to construct, install or operate a
wind or solar energy system that is not in compliance with this article
or with any condition contained in a building permit issued pursuant
to this article.
(1)
Maximum penalty. For violation of any provision of this article,
the maximum penalty, upon conviction, shall be one or more of the
following: a fine not exceeding $2,000 or imprisonment for a period
not exceeding 90 days or a period of community service not exceeding
90 days, at the discretion of the Municipal Court Judge.
(2)
Separate violations. Except as otherwise provided, each and
every day in which a violation of any provision of this article exists
shall constitute a separate violation.
(3)
Lesser penalty. The maximum penalty stated in this section is
not intended to state an appropriate penalty for each and every violation.
Any lesser penalty, including a nominal penalty or no penalty at all,
may be appropriate for a particular case or violation.
(4)
Minimum penalty. The Township Committee may prescribe that at
least a minimum penalty shall be imposed which shall consist of a
fine which may be fixed at an amount not exceeding $100.
B.
Solar energy systems installed prior to the adoption of the article
are exempt.
