The City of North Wildwood introduced an ordinance at their August 4, 2009 meeting which will allow the installation of solar panels on rooftops as a permitted use. A copy of the proposed Ordinance, as introduced, is attached. (See North Wildwood Ordinance 1570 – Amending Chapter 276 (Solar Panels)). According to the City’s Deputy Clerk, the ordinance was also reviewed by the City Planning Board for its comments and/or recommendations on August 12, and minor revisions were suggested which include the following changes: Section 3, Paragraph 1 will read “and shall not be for the generation of power for commercial purposes for resale.” Section 6, Paragraph 5 shall be revised to state that the permit shall be issued or denied within thirty (30) days, instead of one month, to avoid confusion. The public hearing is currently scheduled for September 1.
For communities that want to encourage clean energy technology but are finding that outdated zoning laws are discouraging homeowners and commercial property owners of making the investment in solar technology, the North Wildwood ordinance may serve as a model to assist in developing local standards to encourage the use of solar power systems to reduce energy costs while still requiring use variance approvals for systems designed for commercial sale/resale.
According to the Press of Atlantic City:
Property owners currently have to apply to the city’s Zoning Board, submit detailed site plans and obtain zoning variances to install any solar energy systems, but a new ordinance could make adding solar panels an acceptable use under the city’s zoning laws – making all that extra work unnecessary.
Mayor Bill Henfey said the proposed ordinance, developed by a planner with Remington & Vernick Engineers, was prompted by a request from one resident interested in installing solar panels.
“This makes it as easy as going to the Zoning Office and Construction Office, and you’re done,” Henfey said.
The ordinance would permit rooftop solar panels that can be no taller than 12 inches from the rooftop. It also would prohibit freestanding solar panels or arrays mounted on poles, towers or other devices.
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