[MassHistPres] solar panels in historic districts

[Jane Guy]

Salem just approved a new section in its guidelines for "Satellite
Dishes and Solar Energy Systems"  

http://salem.com/Pages/SalemMA_Historic/Guidelines.pdf

No one has applied yet for solar panels, so the guidelines have not been
challenged.


 
 
Jane A. Guy
Assistant Community Development Director
City of Salem
Department of Planning & Community Development
120 Washington St., 3rd Floor
Salem, MA  01970
978-619-5685
(F) 978-740-0404
jguy at salem.com
www.salem.com
 
 
Date: Thu, 1 Sep 2011 10:35:32 -0400
From: Roseanne Saalfield <zan at charter.net>
Subject: Re: [MassHistPres] solar panels in historic districts

A veritable blizzard of solar panels are about to descend on the roofs
of Harvard.  I hope to have a focused conversation about this important
topic at our meeting next week but would love input from other towns
that have already addressed this issue.

Frankly, I cannot see how historic district commissions can exert any
control over panels visible from a public way given that we do not
involve ourselves in questions relating to storm windows or electric
meters. Much as I personally find the panels often quite ugly (though I
support the effort to find sustainable energy sources) and will not put
them on the perfectly oriented south facing roof of my antique
farmhouse(outside of the district) I don't know whether we have standing
in this issue at all.  Engineering trumps all in this case, I feel.

But I seek to learn ...

thanks
Roseanne Saalfield
Chair
Town Of Harvard
Historic Commission