25-011 Riverbank 25-011 Solar (2)City of Northampton
Massachusetts
DEPARTMENT OF BUILDING INSPECTIONS
212 Main Street ● Municipal Building
Northampton, MA 01060
Wayne Thibault
830 Chesterfield Road
Florence, MA 01062
Dear Mr. Thibault,
I have reviewed your application to put a solar array on your Riverbank Road property. You have not specified
the size of the array but there are 3 possibilities.
The property is in the Special Conservancy district.
Ground mounted solar arrays are allowed as-of-right on a parcel with any building/use, provided that the PV is
sized to generate no more than 100% or 8 KW of the annual projected electric use of the non-PV building/use;
same setbacks as for detached accessory structures.
Ground mounted solar arrays are allowed on a parcel with any building/use, with a special permit from the
planning board, provided that the PV is sized to generate Accessory solar photovoltaic ground-mounted on a
parcel with any building or use, between 8 KW or over 100% but no more than 200% of the annual projected
electric use of the non-PV building.
Ground mounted solar arrays generating more than 200% of the use of the parcel’s building would not be
allowed on your property.
We will need to verify that the building on your parcel is legal; evidence that it has been there and in use since
before 1975 or that it is on a foundation, has an electrical service, water and sewer or a septic system, and has
been there since before 2006. Proof might include assessor’s records, a FEMA flood elevation certificate or
other specific types of records.
We will also need at least 6 months of electric company bills to determine annual electric use.
I can make a final determination when I have this information. We will hold the application until we hear from
you.
Louis Hasbrouck
City of Northampton
Local Inspector and Zoning Enforcement
lhasbrouck@city.northampton.ma.us