SHC Guidelines for solar panels — S� I•ti1Hls'1'ORI i rphlh1ls,SIONC' /!DE N NOTFBO K
SATF.i.i.PTR DISHES AND SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS
{ Rev. 1 1/17/I O
Salem Historical Commission Guidelines
bia/c//ilc Dishes
The Historical Commission basiuiscliction over'satellile dishes and finds that Uacy are obtnlsivc as well as historically aul
architecall-:dly inappropriate elements in historic districts. satellite dishes shall not be visible liout airy public wary. 11
a homeowner is able to locale Ille dish so as not to be visible lion(:lily public way, it will dill require a Cenificalc of Non-
Applicability.
Solm LiICI,;Y Syr/cnu
The Historical Conunission also has Jurisdiction over solar euerRy systems.A solar energy system is it device or stluclurd design
feature,a subsnn(ial purpose of which is to provide daylight lit interior lighting or provide Ibr the collection, storage and
distribution ol'solau'euerRry lint-space healing or cooling,Cie(Il icily Rnneraliug,or water heating(as defined ill(;.I..c. 4OA,41 A).
fit general,a solar energy system shall be placed ilia location that minimizes visibility loom any public way. If a solar euerRry
system will not be visible from;illy public way,either the contractor or the homeowner must apply for aul receive a Certificate
ol'Noo-Applicability bel2n'e such iust:dlatiou.The application shadl stale(he location of the installation,the dimensions and
desigm of equiprnenl to be placed Oil the exterior of the building,details of oller tiou:and the route of exterior wilillg,if ally.
See also the Commission's guidelines lit IJ(ililics,below.
For circumslau'es ill which a solar energy system cannot be installed so as not to be visible from the public way, the contractor
or(lie homeowner must apply liar a Certificate of Appropriateness or Hardship.()lice again, the application shall stale(lie
location of(Ile installation,the dimensions and desih n of equipment to be placed on the exterior of(he building,and the route
of exterior wiring.Applicants are eucourawd to include scaled dmwinp,mamlaclurer's specifications and photographs of
similar installations. If the system is being proposed lilt-the primary slructrine,the applicant shall be prepared to discuss why
placements with less visibility or less impact arc not proposed. When ruling on an application lit it Certificate of
�. Appropriateness fora solar energy system,(he Commission shall consider(he policy of the Commouwc;d(Il ellcouraRmg file
use of such systems and shall protect solar access ((;.L.c.dOC,4 7). Nevertheless,the Commission shall consider and review
each proposed installation oil a case-by-case basis.Among the factors that the Commission shall consider are the lirllowiug:
• Solar energy systems shall be installed soils(o meet the Secretary of(lle Interior Standards lit Itellabili(tiou all be
iustallcd so as M be sensitive to the historic environment.
• [,cation: Installation shall consider(he proportions,balance ad scale of a property to delenninc the least intrusive
location. Installation shall have negligible visual impact upon(Ire site as a whole. Preferably,solar energy systeuns shall
be installed on it rear ell,subordinate wing,secondary massings,within;ul existing skylight,on accessory outbuilelillR.
or on the R�-ouud. If a solar cuel-Ry system is placed on the Rp-ound,it shall be poslllolaed era a limited or-rao-visibility
location ill a secondary area of the property. Uu buildings,they shall be set back on a flat surbace or placed behind au
existing architectural feffiure (parapet,Bonner,chimucy,etc.),whenever possible. Solar euerRry systems shall not be
illstalled on[lie roof of primary elevation of a building unless other options have been explored and eliminated.
• Vege(ahou or a courpatible screen Wray also be explored to fiuthcr reduce the impact of These fi allures oil a historic
property. Such screen should be situated a(a sufficient distance lionr the system to creak a visual barlicr without
casting shadows of a prolonged duration or a(times of day y Thal would inhibit energy production.
• Ili all cases,file iuslallatiou shall be as flat as possible awaimst the sudace where i( is lostalledd. The placement of panels,
either with horizontal or vertical tilt,shall be done to keep a low profile extension. Pitch and elevation shall be
adiusted (o reducc visibility from[lie public light-of-way.
• The hislolic chaacter()[';I property shall be retained and preserved."I hcrel6rc,instalatiou shall no( involve the
removal,eovet'iug ur:dteliuq of siRvilir:ut,chaacler-defining Ic:uures of a building. Roof slopes,dorulcrs,chiuurcys,
windows,shutters and other architecimal features shall 1101 be altered to accommodate solar energy systems. Solar
shingles laminates,glazing or similar materials shall lot replace hislolic nlalerials,such:as slate.
• Roof iutcR�alcd solar shiuglcs nursl 6c low or non-rcllcclivc.
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5'A FMHlSTOHI � 7)dAMI /ON CIIlDELINFSNOTEDOOK
• tiolar cuelL Y syslcros and mounting systems,whenever possible,shall be comp:uable in color to established roolutg
/ materials. Mechanical equipment associated with the solar p:mel sYslem steal be non-visible or minimally risible and
1 unobtmsive as possible. Solar elet'gy systems, mounting systems and mechanical equipment.Avhcuever possible.shall
have non-rcllective finishes.
• Installations shall be reversible and not cause permanent damage to the hislolic iutcApity of the property.
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