NOTICE IS GIVEN that the Board of Supervisors of Charlestown Township will hold a public hearing to consider passage of the following ordinance during its regular meeting on June 5, 2017 at 7:00 PM at the Great Valley Middle School, 255 N. Phoenixville Pike, Malvern PA, 19355. The Board will consider the ordinance and take public comment at the hearing and possibly enact the ordinance immediately following the public hearing as part its regular meeting on the same night. A copy of the ordinance is available for public examination without charge or may be obtained for a charge not greater than the cost thereof during regular business hours at the Township Offices located at 4030 Whitehorse Road, Devault, PA 19432. A summary of the text of the ordinance is as follows:
AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE CHARLESTOWN TOWNSHIP ZONING ORDINANCE, CHAPTER 27 OF THE TOWNSHIP CODE, BY ADDING CERTAIN DEFINITIONS RELATING TO SOLAR ENERGY AND OTHER ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SYSTEMS, AND BY AMENDING PART 23. TITLED, “SOLAR ENERGY AND OTHER ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SYSTEMS” PURSUANT TO THE AUTHORITY SET FORTH IN THE PENNSYLVANIA MUNICIPALITIES PLANNING CODE, 53 P.S., SECTION 10101, ET. SEQ.
Section 1 of the Ordinance adds definitions for the following: Alternative Energy, Alternative Energy System, Borehole, Geothermal System, Closed loop geothermal system, Open loop geothermal system, Ground Array, IGSHPA, Rooftop Array, Shadow Flicker, Solar Collector, Solar Energy System, Solar Panel, Tower, Wind Energy System, and Wind Turbine Height.
Section 2 of the Ordinance provides for a new Part 23 regulating Solar Energy and Other Alternative Systems summarized as follows:
§27-2301 provides the purposes of the Part is to provide regulations for the installation, maintenance, and removal of alternative energy systems within the Township. §27-2302 sets for Use Regulations providing that solar energy systems shall be permitted as an accessory use within all zoning districts, except the H-Historic District, where they are permitted by conditional use, the installation of closed loop geothermal energy systems shall be permitted as an accessory use within all zoning districts and wind energy systems shall be permitted as an accessory use by Conditional Use in the FR District. §27-2303 provides General Provisions requiring Permits for installation of new alternative energy system within the Township, provisions related to fees, Regulations for Solar Energy Systems including compliance with all applicable building codes, all solar panels and solar energy collectors shall be accessory to the principal use of the lot and shall be located so as to minimize glare upon any neighboring properties or any street. Standards are set forth for Solar energy systems permitted as ground arrays and rooftop solar energy systems. Regulations for Wind Energy Systems are provided including a minimum lot size of 2 acres for such systems, all components of a wind energy system shall be set back from all property lines a distance equal to 110% of the wind turbine height, such systems shall not be permitted in a front yard area, wind turbine height shall not exceed 65 feet, no more than one wind energy system with a maximum generation capacity of 20 kW shall be permitted per property and shall not generate noise levels that exceed 52 decibels, as measured at the property line. Regulations for Geothermal Systems are provided for including design and permitting requirements, conformance to all applicable industry standards, permitting requirements, Minimum setbacks, and regulations for discharge water from boreholes. Regulations governing Abandonment applicable to alternative energy systems including a solar energy system or wind energy system that is out of service for a continuous 12-month period is deemed to have been abandoned and any abandoned system shall be removed at the owner’s sole expense within 6 months after the owner receives a notice of abandonment.
Section 3 of the Ordinance provides a severability clause, Section 4 of the Ordinance provides a repeal of conflicting sections of the Code and Section 5 of the Ordinance provides an effective date five (5) days from enactment.
The proposed ordinance contains an enacting clause, and signature lines for the Township Board of Supervisors and the Township Secretary.
An opportunity will be afforded to all interested persons in attendance to address the Board of Supervisors in the matter of this ordinance. If you are a person with a disability and wish to attend the meeting as noticed above, and require an auxiliary aid, service or other accommodation to observe or participate in the proceedings, please contact Linda Csete, Township Secretary (610) 240-0326, to discuss how Charlestown Township may best accommodate your needs.
Charlestown Township
Linda M. Csete, Manager