[MassHistPres] MassHistPres Digest, Vol 67, Issue 2

Thu Sep 1 12:19:14 EDT 2011

 Solar panels have been approved in two of Newton's local historic districts.  Both were solar hot water heaters.  One was on a new house in an LHD and visible at an oblique angle.  The other was on an altered historic home, in this case the panel was prominently visible from the street.  However, the Commission noted that the panel was flush to the roof, recessed from the ridge and eave, on an asphalt shingle roof with no original material affected, and that the building was located at the end of a dead end street, so the panel is only visible when viewing this particular building and isolated.  There was a lot of discussion in both cases involving multiple meetings materials samples, photo simulations ect.  One of the applicants was confused with regards to 40C's provision on solar access and interpreted to mean that an LHD cannot prevent solar installations.  Most recently, an applicant in an LHD proposed using solar slate in place of asphalt shingles, but withdrew.  I am intrigued with the solar slate as an alternative and would encourage people to consider them rather than panels.  I see no problem with denying solar installations if inappropriate.  We had someone who was interested in an array panels protruding from a flat roof in an LHD and the Commission strongly advised against it and the person withdrew the request.     

 Brian Lever

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Sent: Thu, Sep 1, 2011 12:00 pm
Subject: MassHistPres Digest, Vol 67, Issue 2

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Today's Topics:

   1. Re: solar panels in historic districts (Fletcher, Susan)

   2. Re: solar panels in historic districts (james hadley)

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Message: 1

Date: Thu, 1 Sep 2011 11:39:26 -0400

From: "Fletcher, Susan" <SFLETCHER at mail.danvers-ma.org>

Subject: Re: [MassHistPres] solar panels in historic districts

To: Roseanne Saalfield <zan at charter.net>, "masshistpres at cs.umb.edu"

	<masshistpres at cs.umb.edu>

Message-ID: <071E7D4EE855444EAB857739BEAFDB8C300C46263F at exch2007>

Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Danvers would be interested in any responses as well.

Susan Fletcher

Assistant Director

Department of Planning and Human Services

978.777.0001 x3027

sfletcher at mail.danvers-ma.org

-----Original Message-----

From: masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu [mailto:masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu] 

On Behalf Of Roseanne Saalfield

Sent: Thursday, September 01, 2011 10:36 AM

To: masshistpres at cs.umb.edu

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

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Message: 2

Date: Thu, 1 Sep 2011 11:55:38 -0400

From: james hadley <jameswhadley at hotmail.com>

Subject: Re: [MassHistPres] solar panels in historic districts

To: <sfletcher at mail.danvers-ma.org>, <zan at charter.net>,

	<masshistpres at cs.umb.edu>

Message-ID: <SNT105-W20269797D57B95C563560AD5190 at phx.gbl>

Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

The Nat'l Trust has some information on this topic here:  http://www.preservationnation.org/issues/sustainability/solar-panels/

James W Hadley AIA

Chair, Orleans Histoical Commission

> From: SFLETCHER at mail.danvers-ma.org

> To: zan at charter.net; masshistpres at cs.umb.edu

> Date: Thu, 1 Sep 2011 11:39:26 -0400

> Subject: Re: [MassHistPres] solar panels in historic districts

> 

> Danvers would be interested in any responses as well.

> 

> Susan Fletcher

> Assistant Director

> Department of Planning and Human Services

> 978.777.0001 x3027

> sfletcher at mail.danvers-ma.org

> 

> -----Original Message-----

> From: masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu [mailto:masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu] 

On Behalf Of Roseanne Saalfield

> Sent: Thursday, September 01, 2011 10:36 AM

> To: masshistpres at cs.umb.edu

> 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

> ******************************

> For administrative questions regarding this list, please contact 

Christopher.Skelly at state.ma.us directly. PLEASE DO NOT "REPLY" TO THE WHOLE 

LIST.

> MassHistPres mailing list

> MassHistPres at cs.umb.edu

> http://mailman.cs.umb.edu/mailman/listinfo/masshistpres

> ********************************

> ******************************

> For administrative questions regarding this list, please contact 

Christopher.Skelly at state.ma.us directly. PLEASE DO NOT "REPLY" TO THE WHOLE 

LIST.

> MassHistPres mailing list

> MassHistPres at cs.umb.edu

> http://mailman.cs.umb.edu/mailman/listinfo/masshistpres

> ********************************

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