East Pennsboro 1st Township, Cumberland County

"A. Except as provided in § 27-1904.9(B) and § 27-1904.9(C) the surface area of any ground -mounted system, regardless of the mounted angle of any portion of the system, is considered impervious surface and shall be calculated as part of the property lot coverage limitations for the zoning district. If the ground -mounted system is mounted above existing impervious surface, it shall not be calculated as part of the property lot coverage limitations for the zoning district. B. Ground mounted systems complying with all of the following conditions shall not be considered impervious lot coverage. 1. Projects where earth disturbance and grading activities are minimized and where natural vegetative cover is preserved and/ or restored. 2. Utilization of low impact construction techniques must be used. a. Refer to BMP 5.6.1: Minimize Total Disturbed Area —Grading, b. BMP 5.6.2: Minimize Soil Compaction in Disturbed Areas c. BMP 5.6.3: Re -Vegetate and Re- forest Disturbed Areas, Using Native Species from the PA Stormwater Best Management Practices Manual, Department of Environmental Protection, No. 363-0300-002, (December 30, 2006). 3. Vegetative cover must have a minimum uniform 90% perennial vegetative cover with a density capable of resisting accelerated erosion and sedimentation. The 90% standard exceeds the 70% standard as in 25 Pa. Code § 102.22(a)(i), as the vegetation may be typically the primary and only BMP used for solar panel farms. a) A meadow condition is preferable especially for projects located on slopes between 5-10%. b) If areas under the solar panels must be mowed, then the vegetative cover should not be cut to less than 4 inches in height. c) Vegetated areas will not be subject to chemical fertilization or herbicide/ pesticides application, except for those applications necessary to establish the vegetative cover and in accordance with an approved E&S Plan. 4. The individual photovoltaic panels within an "array" are arranged in a fashion that a) Allows the passage of runoff between each module, thereby minimizing the creation of concentrated runoff. b) Allows for the growth of vegetation beneath the panel and between "arrays." 5. Ground mounted solar panels that are supported with structures/ foundations require little earth disturbance for their installation/ construction. Unless evidence is provided to the contrary, it will be assumed that for these ground mounted solar panels themselves (not including access drive, etc.) will disturb 5% of the total project area. 6. Solar panels must be situated on slopes of 10% or less. 7. The lowest vertical clearance of the solar "array" should be 10 feet or less from the surface of the ground but must be of adequate height to promote vegetative growth below the "array." Limiting the height of the solar "array" will minimize the potential for accelerate erosion to occur along the drip line of the solar "array"."