Solar Panel Ordinance Approved in Bedminster

Without any further discussion, the Bedminster Township Committee unanimously approved its solar ordinance Monday after months of discussion and changes.

“I thank the members of this body and the members of the public who gave lots of thought into this,” said Mayor Steve Parker. “I am glad we did this, and glad we did it in the manner we did it.”

Both the members of the committee and the members of the public declined to make any further comments on the ordinance.

A key part of the proposed ordinance prohibits the construction of any solar facility that would produce electricity for use off the facility’s property. Committee members included in the ordinance a standard that solar panels could only generate 110 percent of the power required on the property.

In its discussion of the ordinance over the past three months, the township committee has focused on what zones ground-mounted solar panels would be allowed. Roof-mounted panels will be allowed in all zones.

Ground-mounted solar arrays will not be allowed in residential areas with smaller lot sizes. The ground-mounted panels will be allowed in the township’s R-10 zone, which calls for a minimum lot size of 10 acres, mostly in the western part of the township.

The ground-mounted panels will also be allowed in the R-3 zone, where lot sizes are at least three acres, and in the office zones in the Route 206 corridor.

The ground-mounted panels will be prohibited in all other zones, including the PUD zone which covers most of the Hills community and the shopping center on Hills Drive. Committee members previously expressed concerns that ground-mounted panels in residential neighborhoods would detract from the nature of the area.