New solar rules OK'd

By DANIEL KITTREDGE
Posted 1/29/20

By DANIEL KITTREDGE The yearlong process of updating the city's rules governing solar energy systems has reached the finish line. Mayor Allan Fung on Jan. 22 signed a set of three proposals - a zoning amendment, an amendment to the zoning schedule of

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New solar rules OK'd

Posted

The yearlong process of updating the city’s rules governing solar energy systems has reached the finish line.

Mayor Allan Fung on Jan. 22 signed a set of three proposals – a zoning amendment, an amendment to the zoning schedule of uses and a corresponding Comprehensive Plan amendment – that were approved without opposition during a special meeting of the City Council on Jan. 21.

Debate over the city’s solar rules has been ongoing since 2015, when the initial solar ordinance was adopted. Concerns from residents and officials over the spread of commercial-scale solar projects in Western Cranston – particularly in A-80 residential zones – led to the enactment of a moratorium on such projects in February 2019.

As part of the moratorium, the Planning Department and Planning Commission were tasked with reviewing the existing ordinance and recommending proposed changes. The months-long process that ensued included a number of public forums and many hours of discussion at City Hall, and ultimately produced the amended proposals approved during last week’s council meeting.

The changes to the solar rules essentially result in the prohibition of commercial-scale solar projects in A-80 residential and S-1 open space zones. Solar installations are now divided into three categories – principal use, major accessory and minor accessory. In the A-80 and S-1 zones, neither principal nor major accessory uses are now allowed.

The measures approved by the council and signed by the mayor require a special use permit for minor accessory systems. During a council meeting earlier this month, Planning Director Jason Pezzullo raised concerns over the lack of a distinction between ground-mounted and roof-mounted minor accessory systems, noting that roof-mounted systems are permitted elsewhere across the city without a special use permit.

At Monday’s regular meeting of the council, another ordinance amendment was introduced as new business in a bid to address the issue raised by Pezzullo. It would add language stating that the special permit requirement applies only to ground-mounted minor accessory installations, and only in the A-80 and S-1 zones. It was referred to the council’s Ordinance Committee for consideration on Feb. 18.

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