Vienna Trustees voted to ban large commercial solar farms in the township.

 

Four townships in Columbiana County have done the same and eight others are considering a ban. 

 

Vienna Trustees are concerned about glare from the solar panels, plus a reflection of sunlight on airs guiding planes and pilots landing at the Youngstown Air Reserve Station.

 

"Their concern was you have C130's, which they just got some new ones, flying. The reflection so if these things, if these guys are trying  to land our planes and are fighting for our freedom and taking care of us,. they literally won't be able to see the runway with giant reflection panels," Rich Dacenzo Chairman of the Vienna Township Trustees said.

 

The FAA states glare also has the potential to interfere with radar and other airport equipment which could compromise performance of the radar in detecting aircraft.

 

A second concern cited by trustees is the lifespan of solar panels that degrading over time so they may no longer useful in 20 to 30 years.

 

Trustees don't want taxpayers left with a bill to pay for removal and clean up of solar panels which can contain toxic heavy metals. 

 

"Our concern is will that company still be here to remove those solar panels, or replace them with new or are we going to have areas which are areas that were once farmed that are now covered with panels no one can use. They do contain lead," Trustee Phil Pegg said.

 

Residents can still have a solar system installed however there are regulations the zoning department recommended and that were passed at Monday's meeting. 

 

"If they're bigger they have to be the same color of the siding of the house so they camouflage in, mainly in the back yard so you can't see them coming down the road. And they will have to pull a permit with our zoning inspector," Dacenzo added.

 

Residential Standards:

 

A. Free-standing solar panels shall be limited at a maximum height of ten feet and located in the rear yard where they shall adhere to set back requirements for accessory buildings.

 

B. Free-standing solar panels shall not exceed a total of 50 square feet in size.

 

C. Free-standing solar panels all electrical lines shall be in conduit, all electrical and plumbing lines shall be buried.

 

D.  Roof-mounted solar panels on the front side of the roof facing the street shall be flush mounted to the roof.

 

E. Roof-mounted solar panels that do not face the street may be mounted at an angle to the roof and shall not extend above the ridge line or the roof. 

 

F. For the roof or wall-mounted panels electrical lines shall be in conduit and all plumbing and electrical lines shall be painted in the color scheme that matches as closely as possible to the color of the structure.

 

G. Any batteries must be in storage and marked properly that the batteries are stored inside. 

 

H. Non-functioning solar panels must be removed within 90 days of becoming non-functional.

 

I. Solar installation shall only be permitted for the service of individual properties, no commercial installations or solar farms are permitted.

 

J. Permits are required and considered new construction.