HomeMy WebLinkAboutARB201900089 Action Letter 2019-09-18COUNTY OF ALBEMARLE
Department of Community Development
401 McIntire Road, North Wing
Charlottesville, Virginia 22902-4596
Phone 434 296-5832 Fax 434 972-4126
September 18, 2019
Ryan Blake
Sun Tribe Solar
300 East Main Street, Suite 200
Charlottesville, VA 222902
RE: ARB Work Session on Solar Installations and Countywide Certificate of
Approrpiateness Criteria
Dear Applicant,
At the Architectural Review Board meeting held on September 16, 2019, the ARB discussed the
following items and agreed to hold another work session to discuss standing seam solar
installations:
Solar Awnings
1. Solar awnings must be positioned to have a traditional relationship to windows.
2. Potential issues:
a. awning height above the window;
b. awning angle: optimal is 30 — 40 degrees; carports are typically 10 degrees; awning
angle should relate to traditional pitch; it can be difficult to reconcile the pre-
engineered solution.
c. awning extending across wall area without windows: awnings should have order and
a system that relates to window form and placement; awnings should be compatible
with the hierarchy of the building;
d. awning extending over some but not all windows;
e. awning breaks at window breaks.
3. Are solar panels available in a variety of colors? Blue and black.
4. The size of a solar awning must be compatible with the size of the window and the building.
The awning must appear proportional to the window(s) and the building. Typical solar panel
size is 40" x 80".
5. Visibility of wiring and other related equipment should be eliminated. Wiring can go
through the wall or up and over. In the latter case, it can be painted to match the
wall. The preference is for through the wall.
6. All EC lighting guidelines apply.
7. Revise the standard mechanical equipment note to say: With the exception of solar panels
used with approved solar awning and solar carport installations, visibility of all mechanical
equipment from the Entrance Corridor shall be eliminated.
Solar Carports
1. Locate solar carport structures behind buildings as viewed from the EC.
2. The structure supporting the solar panels should use forms, features and materials that are
consistent with those used in historic buildings and the local context.
3. All EC landscape guidelines apply.
4. All EC lighting guidelines apply.
5. Revise the standard mechanical equipment note to say: With the exception of solar panels
used with approved solar awning and solar carport installations, visibility of all mechanical
equipment from the Entrance Corridor shall be eliminated.
6. What roof forms are acceptable for solar carports? (butterfly? any angle?) Single slope and
butterfly are the two standard available options, but designs can be custom engineered.
Single slope is more consistent with historic precedent, but a building with a butterfly roof
form has been recently approved.
7. Should solar carports be limited in size, so that multiple structures are used instead of overly
large structures? The depth of the carport is 6 modules; the length can be extended.
8. Is there a minimum separation required between carport and parking lot trees for maximum
performance of the panels? Solar carports create shade; can this reduce the required tree
count? Carport size can be shrunk to avoid tree islands. The north side of the carport is the
best place for trees.
9. Maximum height to the underside of the carport should be established.
We will contact you soon to schedule the next work session. If you have any questions
concerning any of the above, please feel free to contact me.
Sincerely,
Margaret Maliszewski
Chief of Planning/Resource Management
434-296-5832 x3276
mmaliszewski@albemarle.org
cc: ARB-2019-89