Board allows solar panel
JANESVILLE — The city's Zoning Board of Appeals voted unanimously Tuesday to allow a 21-foot-high solar unit in the back yard of a home at 1036 Sentinel Drive.
Jon Wangerin, vice chairman of the board, asked that the city consider developing an ordinance so residents would not need a variance review from the appeals board.
City code allows a detached structure to be no greater than 14 feet tall.
General guidelines of a possible ordinance could include a panel's placement behind the principal structure and a requirement to minimize the shadow it creates on neighboring properties.
Neighbors of Philip and Sharon Schuman worried that the panel would harm the neighborhood's aesthetics and property values. The panel is 225 square feet in area.
But the board of appeals after studying case law decided the applicable statute allows the board to consider only public health and safety.
The statute says no county, city, town or village may place restrictions on the installation or use of a solar or wind energy system unless the restrictions protect public health or safety or do not increase the cost of the system or decrease its efficiency.
Wangerin had asked at an earlier meeting whether Alliant could set up another location—a field, for example—where the solar unit could be located and a comparable rate of return achieved for the petitioner. Staff said Alliant does not currently offer any comparable program in Wisconsin where solar collection can be done "off-site" for a private property.
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Feb 26, 2009 at 11:31 a.m.
Suggest removal
Although abandoned vehicles, yard waste and several other items left in yards and driveways are allowed. Not that this is the case near this home. I don't even know what neighborhood this is. BUT...good for them. Use less natural resources, save some money, etc. I wasn't pleased with the tree house my neighbors put up years ago (not architecturally sound or aesthethically pleasing) but our home sold just fine. I am jealous that I cannot afford a solar panel of my own.
Feb 25, 2009 at 10:54 p.m.
Suggest removal
I have to agree with janesvillean on this one. I think the structure will decrease the neighbor's property values and is a very un-neighborly thing to construct. There are other ways to save and generate electricity that would not be such an eyesore.
Feb 25, 2009 at 2:33 p.m.
Suggest removal
When oil hits $150/barrel again, and it will, we'll all be trying to find out how to put up our own solar panel.
Feb 25, 2009 at 2:12 p.m.
Suggest removal
Does this apply to properties in historic districts???
Feb 25, 2009 at 2:07 p.m.
Suggest removal
I support solar energy, but the board is right to take community concern seriously. It isn't particularly attractive.
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It's smarter in the long run to create an energy-efficient home that uses less power in the first place. In Germany they are building houses that use no more energy than a hair-dryer and remain comfortable all year long.
Feb 25, 2009 at 11 a.m.
Suggest removal
Can I have a large cell phone tower with lots of antenna arrays bristling from it now?
Feb 25, 2009 at 10:51 a.m.
Suggest removal
This is great news! To the neighbors, this may actually increase the value of the home at 1036 Senitnel, while yours will remain the same, because of the use of an alternative source of energy.
Feb 25, 2009 at 10:19 a.m.
Suggest removal
Good news. Someday, the sight of large solar panels in yards or roofs will be a sign of community strength, rather than an "aesthetic" issue for some.
Feb 25, 2009 at 9:46 a.m.
Suggest removal
Smart move.
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