[MassHistPres] rooftop solar panels

[Sarah White]

Alisa -

In my 8 years in Somerville, our Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) has never denied solar panel installation on a Local Historic District (LHD) property. We add conditions to all of our approvals (for example, indicating location of where related solar panel equipment can be installed on a building and how to conceal it, among other conditions that are proportional to the approved project and have a rational nexus thereto).

Also of note, we do not allow slate roofs to be removed in order to install solar panels. We had a contractor/property owner try that a few years ago. A good contractor knows how to accomplish this. We limited them to removing only a select number of slates in the location of the mounting of the panels. The project was completed successfully.

I would also point out the language in MGL Chapter 40C Section 7

When ruling on applications for certificates of appropriateness for solar energy systems, as defined in section one A of chapter forty A, the commission shall also consider the policy of the commonwealth to encourage the use of solar energy systems and to protect solar access.

Happy to answer any questions you may have.


Sarah White, MDS-HP

Senior Planner

Planning, Preservation, & Zoning Division (PPZ)

City of Somerville

________________________________
From: MassHistPres <masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu> on behalf of Alisa Struthers via MassHistPres <masshistpres at cs.umb.edu>
Sent: Wednesday, April 19, 2023 4:57 PM
To: Mass Hist <masshistpres at cs.umb.edu>
Subject: [MassHistPres] rooftop solar panels

I'm looking to get a sense of how other towns are ruling on roof top solar panels in Historic Districts.
Thank you in advance for input
Alisa
Townsend Historic District Commission

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