Paris City Zoning Code
§ 29
Required Components Regarding Solar Farm Specific Use Permits SUP.
29-100
While solar farms are modern land uses which can provide environmental and economic benefits, they also require appropriate land use and zoning evaluation. The following represent components of solar farm evaluation that can aid in the appropriate locational, public health, welfare, and safety analysis regarding the establishment of solar farms in Paris. Of course, since a Specific Use Permit (SUP) is a site-specific zoning tool, there may be other considerations that Paris city staff and public officials consider relevant to address, regarding any particular property that has applied for a solar farm development.
(a)
There shall be a mandatory pre-application meeting(s) with relevant City of Paris staff, public officials, and their representatives.
(b)
Solar farms shall be developed on a minimum of a thirty-two (32) acre tract and there shall be a four hundred (400) foot buffer separating all solar farm functions and equipment surrounding all sides of the perimeter of any solar farm property.
(c)
Solar farms shall not be constructed over any on-site wastewater system unless specifically approved by authorized city, state, and/or federal health officials, as required.
(d)
Every component of the solar farm shall be limited to a maximum height of twenty (20) feet; this provision shall not include the interconnection poles, substation equipment or other devices necessary for the electricity to be delivered to the public utility station. Roof-mounted systems shall not exceed the maximum height for the appropriate zoning district, unless approved by the City of Paris staff.
(e)
In addition to pre-application meeting(s) with city staff, applicants shall meet with the Paris airport manager regarding potential solar panel glare issues relative to aircraft navigational functions and/or other potential aircraft or airport operational issues.
(f)
A site plan shall be submitted as part of the SUP approval process.
(g)
As part of Paris staff and officials’ site plan review, and prior to SUP approval, the solar farm(s) developer shall submit the Federal Aviation Administration’s FAA Form 7460-1, filed under Part 77 and included in the Obstruction Evaluation Program, in which the FAA must determine the proposed solar farm to be no obstruction/hazard to air traffic.
(h)
For all proposed solar farms, within five (5) miles of the Paris airport, a solar glare analysis, with the airport manager’s approval, indicating “no glare” shall be attached to Form 7460-1 and included with the Form 7460-1 when presented for SUP application.
(i)
In the event that power production ceases for a period of six (6) months, the owner of the real property upon which the solar farm is located shall remove from the site all the components of the solar farm, to include equipment, conduit, structures, foundations and any other improvements or devices used in the installation or operation of the solar farm and dispose of those components in accordance with applicable law. Said removal shall occur within twelve (12) months of cessation of operations.
(j)
Distribution lines:
To the extent practical, all new distribution lines to any building, structure, or utility connection may be located above ground, but subject to the review and approval of the City of Paris city engineer and City of Paris public works director.
(k)
Approved solar components:
Electric solar system components shall have a UL listing or equivalent.
(l)
Compliance with building code:
All active solar systems shall meet all requirements of the City of Paris Building Codes, and/or other building code/regulation requirements as determined by City of Paris staff.
(m)
Compliance with electric code:
All photovoltaic systems shall comply with all applicable electric codes/regulations as determined by City of Paris staff.
(n)
Utility notification:
No grid tied photovoltaic system shall be installed until evidence has been given to the City of Paris city engineer and City of Paris director of public works that the property owner of the solar farm has been approved by the relevant utility company to install said system.
(o)
As part of the buffering system, a security fence shall surround the perimeter of the solar farm, and as approved by the City of Paris staff.
(p)
Reasonable accessibility for emergency vehicles and services shall be required, and as approved by the City of Paris staff.
(q)
All relevant health and safety requirements of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) pertaining to solar farms shall be met, and as said requirements shall from time to time be modified/amended, and/or updated.
(r)
In addition to the Performance Standards stated within the SUP requirements in the Paris Zoning Ordinance, solar farm development shall follow state regulations regarding Performance Standards and shall also be required to address noxious matter, air pollution, fire hazards, wastes, particulate matter, toxic matter, combustible matter, and flammable matter.
(Ordinance 2017-001, sec. 6, adopted 1/9/17)