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Home My WebLink AboutRES CC 2004 2169 2004 0218RESOLUTION NO. 2004 -2169 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MOORPARK, CALIFORNIA, ESTABLISHING STANDARDS FOR THE REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF THE PLACEMENT AND DESIGN OF SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS. WHEREAS, the City Council has identified the use of solar energy systems as an effective and desirable means of producing energy which is plentiful, non - polluting, and does not deplete the natural resources as many other energy sources do; and WHEREAS, the negative visual impacts associated with the use of these systems can be significant, particularly when viewed from neighboring properties or public rights of way and when not integrated into the architectural design of the buildings; and WHEREAS, the California Solar Rights Act limits the ability of the City to restrict the use or placement of solar energy systems to the degree that the costs would increase by more than twenty percent, or that the efficiency would be degraded by more than twenty percent; and WHEREAS, the Design Standards for Solar Energy Systems are exempt from environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) by the general rule that CEQA only applies to projects that may have a significant effect on the environment; and WHEREAS, the Planning Commission, at its meeting of January 20, 2004, recommended approval of these Standards to the City Council. NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MOORPARK DOES HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. In recognition of both the desire of the City to regulate visual impacts and the limitations established in the California Solar Rights Act, the City of Moorpark establishes as a general policy the encouragement of solar energy systems in locations which provide the greatest potential energy generation, while actively striving to minimize the visual impacts of these systems from streets and neighboring properties. Resolution No. 2004 -2169 Page 2 SECTION 2. Solar energy systems, as shall refer to any system, or component system, associated with the collection conversion to usable energy (whether electr the transmission and storage of that energy facility the equipment serves. referenced herein, equipment of such of sunlight, its icity or heat), and to the building or SECTION 3. In support of this policy, the City of Moorpark hereby adopts the Design Standards for Solar Energy Systems within the City, attached hereto as Exhibit A. SECTION 4. The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this resolution and shall cause a certified resolution to be filed in the book of original resolutions. PASSED AND ADOPTED thi ATTEST: Deborah S. Traffenste t, City Cler} Attachment: Exhibit A - Design Standards for Solar Energy Systems Resolution No. 2004 -2169 Page 3 EXHIBIT A DESIGN STANDARDS FOR SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS 1. These Standards shall apply to the installation and maintenance of solar energy systems for all uses in all zones Citywide. Solar energy systems, as referenced herein, shall refer to any solar collector or other solar energy device, or any structural design feature of a building, whose primary purpose is to provide for the collection, storage, and distribution of solar energy for space heating, space cooling, electric generation, or water heating. 2. Applicants proposing the placement of solar energy systems shall provide plans showing the requested location and configuration of the system, as well as possible alternative locations and configurations, if any, which may better meet the intent of these standards. Should the applicant propose a location or configuration other than the location or configuration that best meets the intent of these standards, the applicant shall have the burden of proof to provide calculations which demonstrate that the location or configuration which best meets the intent of the standards will result in either an increase in system cost in excess of twenty percent (20 %), or a decrease in system efficiency in excess of twenty percent (20 %) when compared to the location or configuration proposed by the applicant. If one of these can be demonstrated, then the system can be approved in an alternative location or configuration that best meets the intent of these standards without a twenty percent (20 %) increase in cost or twenty percent (20 %) decrease in efficiency. 3. Solar energy system equipment shall be placed in locations which are the least visible from public streets, public facilities, and neighboring properties. Avoiding visibility from public rights of way shall be the highest priority, followed by avoiding visibility from neighboring properties. Placement on the roof plane facing away from a street is the preferred location. Resolution No. 2004 -2169 Page 4 4. Placement of equipment on flat roof elements is acceptable, so long as the equipment or its support structures are not visible from public streets, public facilities or neighboring properties. The equipment shall be screened with an architecturally compatible structure, to the extent such screening will not result in an increase in system cost in excess of twenty percent (20 %), or a decrease in system efficiency in excess of twenty percent (200). 5. Equipment and required structural supports shall be placed as close to the roof plane as possible while still maintaining safe and effective operational conditions. Flush mounting is required on pitched roofs, unless flush mounting would constitute a significant impact on cost or efficiency, as defined by the California Solar Rights Act. Equipment and support structures shall not extend beyond the existing roof area or above the top of the wall or existing roof peak of the building upon which they are mounted. 6. Equipment frames, support structures, and related rooftop equipment shall be painted to match, as closely as possible, the predominant color of the roof. The color shall be subject to the approval of the Community Development Director. 7. All electrical wiring shall be enclosed in conduit and all exterior conduit and exterior plumbing on buildings shall be painted to match, as closely as possible, the surface across which they run. Ground - mounted plumbing and conduit shall be buried underground. 8. Any freestanding solar energy system equipment shall be considered accessory structures and shall meet applicable setback and height limitations. 9. Solar energy systems may be designed in such a manner as to become architectural features of the building design. Although use of such a design would not meet these requirements relative to screening from public view, such design may be approved, at the discretion of the Community Development Director. 10. Solar energy system equipment, including hot water storage tanks, shall not occupy required parking spaces. Resolution No. 2004 -2169 Page 5 11. Review and approval of solar energy system installation to existing buildings shall be accomplished through non - discretionary process (i.e. Zoning Clearance), unless significant alterations to the subject building are required, as determined by the Director of Community Development. In these instances, a Permit Adjustment, Planned Development Permit or other discretionary process as determined by the Community Development Director shall be the appropriate mechanism for review and approval. Resolution No. 2004 -2169 Page 6 STATE OF CALIFORNIA ) COUNTY OF VENTURA ) CITY OF MOORPARK ) 6M I, Deborah S. Traffenstedt, City Clerk of the City of Moorpark, California, do hereby certify under penalty of perjury that the foregoing Resolution No. 2004 -2169 adopted by the City Council of the City of Moorpark at a regular meeting held on the 18th of February, 2004, and that the same was adopted by the following vote: AYES: Councilmembers Harper, Mikos, Parvin and Mayor Hunter NOES: Councilmember Millhouse ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None WITNESS my hand and the official seal of said City this 21st day of April, 2004. Deborah S. Traffenste , City Clerk (seal)