The heat pump and any external mechanical equipment shall be removed.

Pipes or coils below the land surface shall be filled with grout to displace the heat transfer fluid. The heat transfer fluid shall be captured and disposed of in accordance with applicable regulations. The top of the pipe, coil or boring shall be uncovered and grouted.

Geothermal energy systems shall be completely removed from the bottom of any water body.

Any such preexisting small WECS that has been inoperable, not supplying energy for 12 months, will require conditions and processes of this section to be met prior to operations being re-initiated. No modification or alteration to an existing small WECS shall be allowed without full compliance with this section.

Small WECS constructed and installed in accordance with this section shall not be deemed expansions of a nonconforming use or structure.

Any public road right-of-way, unless written permission is granted by the governmental entity with jurisdiction over the road.

Any overhead utility or transmission lines.

All property lines.

All dwellings not owned by the requester/WECS owner.

Any travel ways, to include, but not be limited to, driveways, parking lots, nature trails or sidewalks.

Other wind turbine towers, electrical substations, or meteorological towers.

Guy wires used to support the tower are exempt from the small WECS setback requirements. However, the guy wires may not be located within or over a right-of-way without obtaining an easement.

Small WECSs often are deemed unlisted actions and require the Short Environmental Assessment form, yet SEQRA review is determined on a project-by-project basis.

No small WECS shall be installed or mounted less than 110% of the tower height from the nearest dwelling as measured horizontally from the center of the tower base.

All small WECS shall require a minimum lot size of five acres for each turbine.

Tower-climbing apparatus located no closer than 12 feet to the ground.

Manufacturer's or installer's identification on the wind turbine.

Appropriate warning signs and placards.

At least one sign shall be posted on the tower at a height of five feet, warning of electrical shock or high voltage and harm from rotating machinery.

No advertisement, including, brand names, logo or advertising shall be placed or painted on the tower, rotor, generator or tail vane where it would be visible from the ground, except that a system or tower's manufacturer's logo may be displayed in an unobtrusive manner on a system generator housing.

Restoration of the location of the small WECS to its natural condition, except that any landscaping, grading or below-grade foundation may remain in the after-conditions.

Name, address, telephone number of the applicant. If an agent represents the applicant, the application shall include the name, address, and telephone number of the agent as well as an original signature of the applicant authorizing the representation.

Name, address, telephone number of the property owner. If the property owner is not the applicant, the application shall include a letter or other written permission signed by the property owner (1) confirming that the property owner is familiar with the proposed applications and (2) authorizes the submission of the application.

Address, or other property identification, of each proposed tower location, including Tax Map section, block, and lot number.

A description of the project, including the number and maximum rated capacity of each WECS.

A site plan prepared by a licensed surveyor or engineer drawn in sufficient detail to clearly describe the following:

Vertical drawing of the wind turbines showing Total height, turbine dimensions, tower and turbine colors, ladders, distance between ground and lowest point of any blade, location of climbing pegs, and access doors. One drawing may be submitted for each wind turbine of the same type and total height.

Landscaping plan depicting existing vegetation and describing any areas to be cleared and the specimens proposed to be added, identified by species and size of specimen at installation and their locations.

Lighting plan showing any FAA-required lighting as well as all other proposed lighting. The application should include a copy of any determination by the Federal Aviation Administration to establish required markings and/or lights for each structure that is part of the facility, but if such determination is not available at the time of the application, no building permit for any lighted facility may be issued until such determination is submitted.

List of property owners, with their mailing address, within 500 feet of the lot lines of the proposed site.

Decommissioning plan. The applicant shall submit a decommissioning plan, which shall include the following information at a minimum:

Complaint resolution. The application will include a complaint resolution process to address complaints from any resident or property owner. The process in addition to the avenues available under this chapter shall, as a condition precedent to arbitration, use an independent mediator to attempt to resolve the complaint, and include a time limit for acting on a complaint. The applicant shall make every reasonable effort to resolve any complaint through mediation. The process will be subject to the rules of the American Arbitration Association. In the event the matter is not resolved in mediation, it shall be subject to binding arbitration under the rules of the American Arbitration Association. The applicant shall pay all fees and charges for the arbitration unless there is a finding by the Arbitrators for absolute no-fault on the part of the applicant. In the event of a ruling in favor of the complaining party, the arbitrators' award may include attorneys' fees and other costs.

An application shall include, at a minimum, the following information relating to the construction/installation of the commercial wind energy conversion system:

Applications for wind measurement towers subject to this chapter may be jointly submitted with the commercial WECS application.

For each proposed commercial WECS, include make, model, picture and manufacturer's specifications, including noise decibels data. Include manufacturers' Material Safety Data Sheet documentation for the type and quantity of all materials used in the operation of all equipment, including, but not limited to, all lubricants and coolants.

Completed Part I of the Full Environmental Assessment Form.

If the applicant agrees, in writing, in the application that the proposed commercial WECS may have a significant adverse impact on the environment, it may submit a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS), and the Planning Board shall issue a positive declaration of environmental significance.

The applicant, either with the application, or, in the event of a positive declaration under SEQRA, as part of any DEIS submitted by the applicant with respect to the application for a zoning permit, shall submit such studies as the Planning Board reasonably determines to be necessary. Such studies shall be conducted by a qualified consultant as to each of the identified impacts or potential impacts, which study or studies shall include, at a minimum, a detailed analysis of the existing conditions, any potential adverse impacts, and the measures to be taken by the applicant to mitigate or eliminate such impacts.

In addition to the materials required in accordance with this section, complete applications should include any additional study or assessment determined to be required by the lead agency during the review of the project pursuant to SEQRA. No application shall be determined to be complete until a formal environmental finding has been made.

The application shall, prior to the receipt of a building permit, provide proof that it has executed an interconnection agreement with the New York independent system operator and the applicable transmission owner.

A statement, signed under penalty of perjury, that the information contained in the application is true and accurate.

Minimizing traffic impacts from construction and delivery vehicles, including impacts on local residential areas;

Minimizing WECS-related traffic during times of school bus activity;

Minimizing wear and tear on local roads; and

Minimizing impacts on local business operations.

Panels facing the front yard must be mounted at the same angle as the roof's surface with a maximum distance of 18 inches between the roof and highest edge of the system.

Roof-mounted structures shall be color-coordinated to harmonize with roof material and other dominant colors of the structure.

All solar collectors shall be installed so as to prevent any glare and heat that is perceptible beyond applicant property's lot lines.

All large-scale solar energy systems shall be designed by a NYS licensed architect or licensed engineer and installed in conformance with the applicable International Building Code, International Fire Prevention Code and National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 70 Standards.

All solar collectors must be located in compliance with DEC and federal floodplain regulations and specifications as they pertain to waterways, water bodies, and designated wetlands.

If the property of the proposed project is to be leased, legal consent between all parties, specifying the use(s) of the land for the duration of the project, including easements and other agreements, shall be submitted.

Plans showing the layout of the solar energy system signed by a professional engineer or registered architect shall be required.

The equipment specification sheets shall be documented and submitted for all photovoltaic panels, significant components, mounting systems, and inverters that are to be installed.

Property operation and maintenance plan. Such plan shall describe continuing photovoltaic maintenance and property upkeep, such as mowing and trimming.

Glint and glare report is required to determine potential impacts to the Watertown International Airport and Wheeler-Sack Army Airfield.

Decommissioning plan. To ensure the proper removal of large-scale solar energy systems, a decommissioning plan shall be submitted as part of the application. Compliance with this plan shall be made a condition of the issuance of a special use permit under this section. The decommissioning plan must specify that after the large-scale solar energy system can no longer be used, the applicant or any subsequent owner shall remove it. The plan shall demonstrate how the removal of all infrastructure and the remediation of soil and vegetation shall be conducted to return the parcel to its original state prior to construction. The plan shall also include an expected time line for execution. A cost estimate detailing the projected cost of executing the decommissioning plan shall be prepared by a professional engineer or contractor. Cost estimations shall take into account inflation. Removal of large-scale solar energy systems must be completed in accordance with the decommissioning plan. If the large-scale solar energy system is not decommissioned after being considered abandoned, the municipality may remove the system and restore the property and impose a lien on the property to cover these costs to the municipality.

Sureties/bond. The applicant shall be required to provide sureties, as set forth, for the removal of the large-scale solar energy system. Pursuant to the execution of the decommissioning plan, the applicant shall provide the Town with a bond in an amount determined by the Town Board, but in no case less than 20% of the component/material cost (adjusted for inflation 20 years into the future after installation) to cover the expense of removal of the system and remediation of the landscape, in the event the Town must remove the facility. The bond shall be in a form acceptable to the Town Attorney, which includes, but are not limited to, a letter of credit, perpetual bond, or any combination thereof. The amount shall be reviewed every three years by the Town Board and shall be adjusted if deemed necessary. If the bond is deemed to be adjusted, the applicant shall have 90 days from notice to provide an adjustment bond.

Fort Drum. The applicant shall notify Fort Drum personnel in the Plans, Analysis, and Integration Office as soon as possible upon application submission to determine potential impacts on Fort Drum airfield and training activities. The applicant shall provide a letter from Fort Drum with comments.

Watertown International Airport. The applicant shall notify the Airport Manager as soon as possible upon application submission to determine potential impacts on the airport. The applicant shall provide a letter from the Manager with comments.

Height and setback. Large-scale solar energy systems shall not exceed 16 feet in height when oriented at maximum tilt. Any structure and equipment shall be set back a minimum of 50 feet from lot lines.

Lot size. Large-scale energy systems shall be located on lots with a minimum lot size of five acres.

Prime soils, prime if drained, and soils of statewide importance that are in agricultural production are a valuable and finite resource. Proposed large-scale solar systems shall minimize the displacement of prime soils that are in agricultural production. The site plan shall depict the location and extent of prime soils, prime soils if drained, soils of statewide importance, and indicate whether the parcel(s) is/are receiving an agricultural valuation. The site plan shall also depict the location and extent of current agricultural uses on the land (e.g., rotational crops, hay land, unimproved pasture, support lands, and fallow lands) the location of diversions and ditches, and areas where tile drainage has been installed.

Roadways. In accordance with National Fire Protection Association, all access roads shall be a minimum of 20 feet wide to ensure adequate emergency and service access. Dead-end roads that are at least 150 feet in length shall be provided with approved provisions for the turning around of fire apparatus. Maximum use of existing roads, public or private, shall be made. Minimal access points shall be allowed by the Planning Board. A turnaround shall be provided at the gate.

Structures for overhead collection lines are to be located upon the nonagricultural areas and along field edges where possible. Electric interconnect cables and transmission lines are to be buried in agricultural fields wherever practical. Interconnect cables and transmission lines installed above ground shall be located outside agricultural field boundaries. When aboveground cables and transmission lines must cross agricultural fields, taller structures that provide longer spanning distances and locate poles on field edges to the greatest extent practicable. All buried electric cables in cropland, hay land, and improved pasture shall have a minimum depth of 48 inches of cover. At no time is the depth of cover to be less than 24 inches below the soil surface.

Fences. All large-scale energy systems shall be enclosed by fencing to prevent unauthorized access. The type of fencing shall be determined by the Planning Board. The fencing and the system may be further screened by any landscaping needed to avoid adverse aesthetic impacts.

Screening. All large-scale solar energy systems shall have the least visual effect practical, as determined by the Planning Board. Based on site specific conditions, including topography, adjacent structures, and roadways, reasonable efforts shall be made to minimize visual impacts by preserving natural vegetation, and providing landscape screening to abutting residential properties, public roads, and from public sites known to include important views or vistas, but screening should minimize the shading of solar collectors. No more than 15% of the total existing brush, trees, and other perimeter screening vegetation on a parcel of property may be removed in order to accommodate a solar farm. Appurtenant structures such as inverters, batteries, equipment shelters, storage facilities, and transformers shall be screened.

Signage. Warning signs with the owner's contact information shall be placed on the entrance and perimeter of the fencing. Solar equipment shall not be used for displaying any advertising. All signs, flags, streamers or similar items, both temporary and permanent, are prohibited on solar equipment except: manufacturer's or installer's identification; appropriate warning signs and placards; signs that may be required by a federal agency; and signs that provide a 24-hour emergency contact phone number and warn of any danger.

Glare. Solar panels shall be placed and arranged such that reflected solar radiation or glare shall not be directed onto adjacent buildings, properties, or roadways. Exterior surfaces of all collectors and related equipment shall have a nonreflective finish. Particular attention shall be paid to panel orientation with regard to airport runway locations, and airplane flyover/approach patterns to minimize potential glare impacts on pilots based on the glint and glare study.

Noise. Noise-producing equipment such as substations and inverters shall be located to minimize noise impacts on adjacent properties. Their setback from property lines should achieve no discernible difference from existing noise levels at the property line.

Safety. The owner/operator shall provide a letter from the Fire Chief of the Carthage Fire Department that the Fire Department has reviewed the application and site plan with any comments. All means of shutting down the photovoltaic solar energy system shall be clearly marked on the site plan and building permit applications.

The Planning Board may impose conditions on its approval of any special use permit under this section in order to enforce the standards referred to in this section or in order to discharge its obligations under the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA).