The Bellefontaine City Council met Tuesday evening in council chambers at city hall, with about 10 guests in attendance.
For the first time in 10 years, the meeting kicked off with the removal of a citizen who failed to obey the rules regarding the removal of his hat while in council chambers. He was escorted to the hall by Police Chief Chris Marlow.
City Engineer Jim Bischoff reported that in 2024 the City of Bellefontaine had granted permits for the construction of 37 new homes- the statement was followed by the fact that already this month there have been 15. The city looks to surpass the 2024 number by March of this year. Bischoff was happy to report that they are averaging two permits granted per day, keeping his office very busy. Mayor Crissman talks about the rapid growth and how the city is coping:
Service Safety Director Wes Dodds praised the City’s Water Department employees for their hard work and dedication. Over the last few weeks, they have dealt with and repaired over 8 water main breaks despite the frigid temperatures.
Economic Development Director, Ben Vollrath reported that in recent talks with area employers, they are facing employment challenges. Vollrath went on to report that there were not enough high-end and basic workers to fill open positions locally, forcing employers to get creative in the hiring process and possibly look outside the area for fulfillment.
The council moved on to public comment where two people spoke on the marijuana topic, one in support and one in opposition.
In committee reports, the council heard from the Rules Committee, which is spearheaded by Jenna James. James reported that the committee would table the two topics they have placed on the agenda due to the absence of Councilwoman Deb Baker. James expressed the need for a full council to have a complete vote on both topics. It is hoped that both topics will be able to be voted on at the next meeting.
Here are the ordinances for the evening:
Ordinances for 1st reading
- 25-02 a. An ordinance establishing and providing for compensation for the Bellefontaine Municipal Court Prosecutor’s Secretary/Paralegal and Victim Witness Coordinator and declaring an emergency in the City of Bellefontaine, Ohio. (Passed on first and final reading, and adopted by a 100% vote.)
- 25-03 b. An ordinance approving and adopting new planning and zoning regulations regarding Solar Energy Systems for the City of Bellefontaine is to be Codified as Chapter 1166 of the Codified Ordinances of said city. (SEE WORDING BELOW) (TABLED UNTIL 2/11/25)
- 25-04 c. An ordinance by the Bellefontaine City Council exercising the city’s right under Ohio Revised Code Section 3780.25 to prohibit the sale of recreational marijuana within the municipal corporation by enacting Chapter 731 of the Codified Ordinances of the City of Bellefontaine to prohibit all adult-use cannabis operators within the municipal corporation and declaring an emergency. (TABLED UNTIL 2/11/25)
- 25-05 d. An ordinance authorizing and directing the City Engineer or Service Safety Director to enter into a contract with Logan County Engineer’s Office/Harrison Township for a chip-seal overlay of the city portion of Township Road 46 North near State Route 47 toward County Road 13 and declaring an emergency. (Passed on first ONLY by a 100% vote.)
Ordinances for 2nd reading
- 25-01 a. An ordinance authorizing and directing the Service-Safety Director to accept on behalf of the City of Bellefontaine certain real estate from the Board of County Commissioners in the vicinity of Cooper Avenue and declaring an emergency. (Passed on second reading ONLY by a 100% vote.)
The council will next meet on Tuesday, February 11 at 7:30 PM.
CHAPTER 1166- Solar Energy Systems
1166.01 Purpose. It is the purpose of this chapter, to promote the health, safety, and welfare of the community by establishing regulations governing the siting, construction, and maintenance of Solar Energy Systems.
1166.02 Definitions. For the purposes of this chapter, “Solar Energy Systems” shall include the following:
a) Accessory Solar Energy: A solar collection system consisting of one or more roof/building mounted, ground/pole mounted, and/or other structure mounted solar collector devices and solar-related equipment, and is intended to primarily reduce on-site consumption of utility power. A system is considered an accessory solar energy system only if it supplies electrical or thermal
power solely for on-site use, except that when a property upon which the system is installed also receives electrical power supplied by a utility company, excess electrical power generated and not
presently needed for on-site use may be used by the utility company.
b) Principal Solar Energy Production Facility: An area of land or other area used for a solar collection system principally used to capture solar energy and convert it to electrical energy. These production facilities primarily produce electricity to be used off-site. Principal solar energy production facilities consist of one or more roof/building mounted, ground/pole mounted, and/or
other structure-mounted solar collector devices, solar-related equipment, and other accessory structures and buildings including light reflectors, concentrators, and heat exchangers, substations, electrical infrastructure, transmission lines and other appurtenant structures and facilities. Examples include “Small Solar Facility” and “Community Solar Facility” as defined by
statute or herein.
c) Solar Energy Equipment: Items for the purpose of generation, transmission, and storage of electricity, including but not limited to a solar photovoltaic cell, solar panels, lines, pumps, inverter(s), batteries, mounting brackets, racking, framing and/or foundation used for or intended to be used for the collection of solar energy.
d) Solar Photovoltaic (PV): The technology that uses a semiconductor to convert light directly into electricity.
e) Clear Fall Zone (Solar Energy): An area surrounding a ground/pole mounted or other structure-mounted solar energy system into which the system and/or components might fall due to
inclement weather, poor maintenance, faulty construction methods, or any other condition causing the structure’s failure that shall remain unobstructed and confined within the property
lines of the lot where the system is located. The purpose of the zone is that if the system should fall or otherwise become damaged, the falling structure will be confined to the lot and will
not intrude onto a neighboring property.
f) Small Solar Facility: Pursuant to ORC 713.081 (A) (2), “Small Solar Facility” means solar panels and associated facilities with a single interconnection to the electrical grid and designed for, or capable of, operation at an aggregate capacity of less than 50 MW.
g) Community Solar: Also known as shared solar, or solar gardens, is an energy model that allows customers to buy or lease part of a larger off-site shared solar photovoltaic (PV) system. For the
purposes of this Resolution, “Community Solar” is considered to be a “Principal Solar Energy Production Facility”.
1166.03 Accessory Solar Energy Systems
a) Accessory solar energy systems are installed to reduce the on-site consumption of utility-supplied electricity.
b) An accessory solar energy system shall be considered a permitted accessory use in any district provided all requirements and regulations as set forth below are met.
c) No person shall cause, allow, or maintain the use of an accessory solar energy system without first having obtained a zoning permit from the City Engineer.
d) All accessory solar energy systems shall meet the following requirements:
1. An accessory solar energy system is permitted in all zoning districts as an accessory to a principal use.
2. An accessory solar energy system shall not be used for the generation of power for the sale or donation of energy to other users, although this provision shall not be interpreted to prohibit the sale or donation of excess power generated from time to time to the local utility company or the sale of donation of power as part of a net metering or similar arrangement. Net metering or similar arrangements are those where the electricity produced by the accessory solar energy system displaces electricity that would otherwise be purchased from an electric utility or supplier for the lot where the accessory system is located. Net metering or similar arrangements shall be incidental and secondary to the production for on-site use.
3. Accessory solar energy systems with a generation output of five hundred (500) watts or less, or a combination of accessory solar energy systems with an aggregate generation output of five hundred (500) watts or less, shall not require a permit and shall be exempt from the requirements of this section, provided that the system is independent and disconnected from the electrical service(s) supplied to the lot on which the accessory solar energy system is located.
4. Roof/Building-mounted accessory solar energy systems:
a. Shall not extend beyond the perimeter (or edge of the roof) of the building on which it is located.
b. May be mounted to a principal or accessory building.
c. The height of the solar energy system and building to which it is mounted may not exceed the ridgeline of the roof for hip, gable, and gambrel roofs.
5. Ground/Pole mounted accessory solar energy systems:
a. Shall be no taller than seventy-five (75) percent of the maximum building height allowed in that zoning district for accessory buildings.
b. Shall be permitted in the rear or side yard only.
c. Shall be erected within an established clear fall zone.
d. The minimum setback distance from the property lines for structures comprising the solar energy systems and all related equipment shall be at least one hundred ten (110) percent of the height of any structure or at least twenty (20) feet from the nearest property line, whichever is greater.
6. Other structure-mounted accessory solar energy systems:
a. Shall be no taller than seventy-five (75) percent of the maximum building height allowed in that zoning district for accessory buildings.
b. Shall be permitted in the rear or side yard only.
c. Shall be erected within an established clear fall zone.
d. The minimum setback distance from the property lines for structures comprising solar energy systems and all related equipment shall be at least one hundred ten (110) percent of the height of any structure or at least twenty (20) feet from the nearest property line, whichever is greater.
7. Accessory solar energy systems shall be designed and located in order to prevent reflective glare toward any inhabited structure on adjacent properties as well as adjacent street right of ways.
8. Accessory solar energy systems and all solar energy equipment that are no longer functioning shall be completely removed from the property within six (6) months from the date they are no longer producing electricity, become damaged, discontinued, or broken. Any earth disturbance as a result of the removal of the accessory solar energy system shall be graded and reseeded within thirty (30) days of removal.
9. In addition to the site plan required for any zoning permit or conditional use permit, the following shall also be submitted at the time of application and shall include:
a. Height of the proposed solar energy system(s) at maximum tilt.
b. Evidence of established setbacks of 1.1. times the height of any ground/pole mounted or other structure-mounted solar energy systems and “clear fall zone”.
c. Proof of notice to the electric utility company regarding the proposal.
1166.04 Principal Solar Energy Production Facilities
a) Principal solar energy production facilities are principally designed to produce greater levels of electrical energy, either for consumers with higher energy demand levels or designed primarily to
produce energy to be supplied directly to the electrical grid.
b) Principal solar energy production facilities shall only be located in an M-2 General Manufacturing District after approval by the Board of Zoning Appeals as a conditional use. The City Engineer shall issue the final zoning permit. No zoning permit and/or conditional use permit shall become final until all of the requirements set forth in this Chapter 1166 have been satisfied.
c) It is not the purpose of this regulation to regulate a major utility facility as defined by the Ohio Power Siting Board (50 MW or greater).
d) In addition to any requirements stipulated by the City Engineer or the Board of Zoning Appeals, all principal solar energy production facilities shall meet the following minimum requirements:
1. The proposed principal solar energy production facility must be located on a lot of at least ten (10) acres in size.
2. For purposes of determining lot coverage, the total surface area of all ground/pole-mounted solar energy systems including cells, panels, and water collector devices shall be considered impervious and shall count toward the maximum percent of a lot to be occupied.
3. The maximum percentage of a lot to be occupied shall be seventy-five percent (75%) as determined by the combined gross area of all lots/parcels comprising the total project footprint.
4. All on-site utility, distribution, and transmission lines, that are the responsibility of the principal solar energy production facility to maintain, shall be placed underground.
5. Roof/Building-mounted solar energy systems:
a. Shall not extend beyond the perimeter (or edge of the roof) of the building on which it is located.
b. May be mounted to a principal or accessory building.
c. The height of the solar energy system and building to which it is mounted may not exceed the ridgeline of the roof for hip, gable, and gambrel roofs.
6. Ground/Pole mounted solar energy systems:
a. Shall be no taller than seventy-five (75) percent of the maximum building height allowed in that zoning district for accessory buildings.
b. Shall be erected within an established clear fall zone.
7. Other structure-mounted solar energy systems:
a. Shall be no taller than seventy-five (75) percent of the maximum building height allowed in that zoning district for accessory buildings.
b. Shall be erected within an established clear fall zone.
8. Solar energy systems shall be designed and located in order to prevent reflective glare towards any inhabited building on adjacent properties as well as adjacent street right-of-way. Applicants must complete and provide the results of the Solar Glare Hazard Analysis Tool (SGHAT), or an equivalent report, for neighboring lots and right-of-way.
9. The proposed principal solar energy production facility must comply with any applicable airport zoning overlay and height restrictions, and the ability to comply with the FAA regulations pertaining to hazards to air navigation must be demonstrated.
10. All mechanical equipment of solar energy systems including any structure for batteries or storage cells, shall be completely enclosed by a minimum seven (7) foot high fence with a self-locking gate, and provide screening in accordance with this Chapter.
11. Screening shall be established in accordance with the provisions of this Chapter, be maintained in good condition, and free of all advertising or other signs. In addition to any other screening requirements of this Chapter, the following standards shall apply:
a. Any buildings and solar energy equipment shall be screened from ground-level view from any adjacent road right-of-way, any adjacent lot with residential use, and any residential zoning district.
b. Screening shall consist of vegetation, mounding, natural landforms, or any combination thereof. Screening may be supplemented by fencing or walls, but shall not be the primary method. i. Fencing shall incorporate gaps or spaces of at least six (6) inches by six (6) inches to allow passage of small mammals.
c. Screening shall be a minimum of eight (8) feet in height.
d. Mounding shall be seeded and planted with trees. The base of the mound shall not be graded at an angle greater than forty-five degrees (45°).
e. Screening shall be clustered around groups of solar energy equipment and buildings and not the entirety of the lot to allow for “wildlife corridors” where wildlife can traverse the lot.
12. Buffering shall be established in accordance with the provisions of this Chapter. In addition to any other buffering requirements of this Chapter, including those established by the Board of Zoning Appeals, the following minimum standards shall apply:
a. A one hundred and twenty (120) foot setback along stream boundaries (including ephemeral and intermittent streams).
b. A one hundred and twenty (120) foot setback from Category 1 and 2 wetland boundaries.
c. A three hundred (300) foot setback from Category 3 wetland boundaries.
13. Setback requirements for any component of the solar energy system, shall be:
a. One hundred and fifty (150) feet from lot lines of non-participating lots.
b. Three hundred (300) feet from any dwelling.
c. One-hundred and fifty (150) feet from the edge of any adjacent road right-of-way.
14. Ingress and egress driveways, interior access/maintenance roads, and any off-street parking and circulation routes shall be constructed with a durable and dust-free surface.
15. Areas that are undeveloped, areas not required for regular maintenance, and other spaces not devoted to the active use of the lot (such as in between rows of ground-mounted solar panels) shall be landscaped with vegetation in such a manner as to prevent soil erosion by wind or rain or the spreading of invasive species and noxious weeds. Plantings shall follow the standards set forth in the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Guidance for Proposed Solar Energy Facilities in Ohio.
16. Solar energy systems and all solar energy equipment that are no longer functioning shall be completely removed from the property within twelve (12) months from the date they are no longer producing electricity, become damaged, discontinued, or broken. Any earth disturbance as a result of the removal of the ground-mounted solar energy system shall be graded and reseeded within thirty (30) days of removal.
17. In addition to the site plan required for any zoning permit or conditional use permit, the following shall also be submitted at the time of the application and shall include:
a. Height of the proposed solar energy system(s) at maximum tilt.
b. Evidence of established setbacks and “clear fall zone”.
c. Proof of notice to the electric utility regarding the proposal.
d. Construction plans including a drainage plan, methods of stormwater management, and sediment and erosion plans, shall be in strict compliance with the standards set forth by the City Engineer. The construction plans must be approved by the City Engineer before a zoning certificate can be applied for.
e. A narrative of expected and potential impacts to ecological, cultural, archeological, and agricultural resources and impacts to neighboring land uses.
f. A landscaping plan.
g. A screening and buffering plan, including any wildlife corridors.
h. A narrative addressing the expected lifespan of the facility, expected regular maintenance activities, and an end-of-life decommissioning plan in accordance with section 1166.05 of the Codified Ordinances of the City of Bellefontaine.
i. A list of all adjacent property owners, their parcel numbers, and addresses.
e) The City Engineer and the Board of Zoning Appeals shall use Ohio Revised Code and Ohio Administrative Code rules and regulations as guidelines for additional restrictions on all principal solar energy production facilities, including without limitation Ohio Administrative Code Rule 4906-4-09.
1166.05 Decommissioning plan for solar generation required
a) For purposes of this Chapter 1166 of the Codified Ordinances of the City of Bellefontaine, “applicant” means an applicant for a zoning permit issued by the City Engineer, as approved by the Board of Zoning Appeals as a conditional use, to construct, operate, or maintain a principal solar energy production facility, and includes any subsequent person to whom the permit is transferred.
b) At least sixty (60) days prior to submission to the Board of Zoning Appeals, the applicant shall submit a comprehensive decommissioning plan for review and approval by the City Engineer, or its designated third-party reviewer. The applicant shall be responsible for the review fees (as designated or on file in the office of the City Engineer) for the decommissioning plan. No zoning permit and/or conditional use permit shall become final until all requirements set forth in this Chapter 1166 have been satisfied.
1166.051 Decommissioning plan requirements and estimated costs
a) The decommissioning plan submitted to the City Engineer under section 1166.05(B) of the Codified Ordinance of the City of Bellefontaine shall be prepared by a professional engineer registered with the state board of registration for professional engineers and surveyors. The City Engineer may reject the engineer chosen by the applicant and require the applicant to choose another qualified engineer.
b) The plan shall contain the following:
(1) A list of all parties responsible for decommissioning;
(2) A schedule of decommissioning activities, not to extend beyond twelve (12) months from the date the principal solar energy production facility ceases operation;
(3) An estimate of the full costs of decommissioning the principal solar energy production facility, including the proper disposal of all facility components and restoration of the land on which the facility is located to its preconstruction state. The estimate shall not take into account the salvage value of any materials from the facility.
1166.052 Decommissioning estimated costs recalculation. The estimate of the total decommissioning costs of a principal solar energy production facility, as described in division (b)(3) of section 1166.051 of the Codified Ordinance of the City of Bellefontaine, shall be recalculated every five (5) years by an engineer retained by the applicant.
1166.06 Decommissioning performance bond required
a) Prior to beginning construction, the applicant shall post a performance bond to ensure that funds are available for the decommissioning of the facility.
b) The City of Bellefontaine shall be the obligee of the bond.
1166.061 Decommissioning performance bond amount
a) The performance bond required by section 1166.06 of the Codified Ordinances of the City of Bellefontaine shall be equal to the estimate of the costs of decommissioning included in the decommissioning plan described in section 1166.052 of the Codified Ordinances of the City of Bellefontaine.
1166.062 Decommissioning performance bond update
a) The performance bond for the decommissioning of a principal solar energy production facility shall be updated every five (5) years, based on the most recent estimates, as described in section
1166.061 of the Codified Ordinances of the City of Bellefontaine.
b) If the costs of decommissioning are greater in the most recent estimate than the costs of the immediately preceding estimate, the performance bond shall be increased proportionately.
c) If the costs of decommissioning are lower in the most recent estimate than the costs of the immediately preceding estimate, the performance bond shall not be decreased.
