Upcoming Energy Ordinance Receives Planning Board Scrutiny

Manchester's reviewed an upcoming renewable energy ordinance, discussing its implications before the final version makes it to the township council for a vote at a still undetermined date.

The board at its regular monthly meeting on Monday night talked about the standards set forth in the ordinance, such as where and what types of renewable energy installations can be built throughout the township.

"It limits large solar farm," said planner Albert Vodakis. "It sets some standards on that. It's not going to limit if someone wants to put solar panels on top of their house. There are some standards for that, but it's not going to require them to come to the board."

If someone does want a solar array installed in the yard of a residence — not on a roof, Vodakis said — it will require a certain amount of acreage and setbacks from surrounding properties. 

"It does put in place standards for a solar farm," Vodakis said.

Should a property owner want to install an energy farm, which is allowed only in non-residential areas with a minimum lot area of 20 acres, the planner said that the applicant will have to bring the plans to the board for approval.

"We'd have the opportunity to review that, make sure that the buffers meet the requirements of this ordinance," Vodakis said. 

The board also made clear what types of installations are appropriate depending on the type of property where they are installed and what the intended use is.

"A minor solar facility is supporting what you have on that lot," Vodakis said. "If the town put up solar panels here to offset power costs here, that would be a minor solar facility. A major solar facility is if you were selling power."

The New Jersey Pinelands Commission is planning to create solar and wind ordinances, Vodakis said, with which Manchester will have to comply.

"Once the Pinelands puts their ordinance in place, that is going to be something we will have to adopt," Vodakis said. "I understand that they're working on that and it could be forthcoming very soon."

This means that the board may be reconsidering the township ordinance once the Pineland's rules are made.

Board member Donald Czekanski questioned why the township was working to pass this energy ordinance when rules from the Pinelands Commission may soon arrive.

"This would cover the entire town for right now until Pinelands puts something in place," Vodakis said. "Something else that I think is important — the only protection we have right now from someone putting up a wind turbine is the height rules. Right now someone could come in and ask to put up a wind turbine in a residential area."

Substitute board attorney Christina Faustina addressed language in the ordinance that allows for a major solar installation in the town center, the area near the municipal complex between Routes 37 and 70.

"I'm just concerned about one being here," she said, adding that the ordinance should only allow for construction of such installations where feasible to prevent confusion. "I don't want anyone to ever say, 'you adopted an ordinance where you were trying to push it one way,' or, 'you created a nonsense ordinance.'"

"As long as it's feasible, we're good," Faustina said. 

But board member Donald Somerset said that the unused land exists, though the property is "not necessarily under one ownership at the moment."

"There actually is the acreage," he said.

The board will forward its comments to the Township Council to consider before the ordinance is adopted.

The township's Environmental Commission last month the ordinance could have to wildlife and recommended that language about the size of wind turbines be made clearer.