b. Solar Panels

EXTRACT FROM FCHOA DECLARATION OF PROTECTIVE COVENANTS:

Paragraph 7.12:  Solar Devices.  No artificial or man-made device which is designed or used for collection of or heating by solar energy or other similar purposes shall be placed, allowed, or maintained upon any portion of the Properties, including any Dwelling Unit, without the prior written consent of the ARC. 

Guidelines:

The following guidelines are considered initial guidelines to be referenced when considering applications for the installation of solar devices within the FCHOA.  These guidelines will be updated periodically by the Ford’s Colony Architectural Control Committee (ARC) as approved by the FCHOA Board of Directors.  Each application for the installation of solar devices is considered unique and will be considered accordingly.   In all cases the principal criteria will be to protect the home values of all residents within FCHOA.  One of the primary considerations will be, in the opinion of the ARC, the potential for an aesthetic, visual, or other potential nuisance as seen from neighborhood views, street views, and golf course views, as well as homeowner association recreational common property.  The ARC reserves the right to prohibit solar panel devices, as well as any particular application for solar panel devices.  Previous approvals will not be considered precedents requiring future approvals on similar merits.

Until the ARC is able to compile more data on the various types of solar devices all systems will be viewed independently from other applications.  The ARC recognizes that “shingle style” and “Roll style” solar devices are unique in nature no independent guidelines will be developed for their application until more information is available to the committee.  Shingle style solar collection devices will be encouraged.  

Small landscape and walkway solar devices, with the solar cell collection dimension of less than 40 square inches are permitted in limited quantity sufficient for low light illumination that is not considered a nuisance to neighborhood view.  The following criteria do not apply to limited small landscape and walkway solar devices.

While not limiting the authority of the ARC, the following criteria may be grounds for disapproval of a solar application: 

-Application for installation on any structure that is in view from the golf course or main roadways (“Drives”), such as John Pott Drive, Edinburgh Drive, St. Andrews Drive, Williamsburg West Drive and Ford’s Colony Drive.  This will include all lots that are adjacent to the golf course and some homes that are “viewable” from a golf course as determined by the ARC.

-no “free standing” solar collection system will be allowed.  Solar devices will only be considered if the proposed mounting structure is the roof of a primary residence or a major outbuilding/shed style structure that meets all other established guidelines.

-No solar device will be placed on the front of any residence.  Proposed solar systems should be reasonably screened from view, either by location or dense tree canopy, from the street, neighboring property, or association recreation common property. Locations that can be viewed from multiple street locations, such as a corner lot, will be required to meet this criteria from each street to the extent practicable.

-Only commercially available solar panels will be installed.  No homemade systems will be approved.

The following guidelines will be applied for determination on all applications:

-The maximum number of panels will be 30 commercially available standard size panels.  In addition, the covered roof area can not exceed 50% of the roofline available.

-To the extent possible panels will be installed in a uniform layout.  This includes square, rectangle and “L” shape configurations.  Exceptions will be considered on a case by case basis for existing vents and pipes that are exposed on the proposed roof structure.

-Standard, commercially available mounting brackets will be used.  The panels will only be mounted parallel to the supporting roof structure.  No angled or tilt support structure will be approved. Panels shall be fixed in position and not be capable of changing orientation with different sun angles. 

-The maximum height will be 6 inches to the top of installed panels.

-The step down from the roof ridge and from the side of roof structures will be at least 6 inches to reduce visibility of the system.  

-The removal of trees to accommodate solar systems will be discouraged.  For new construction existing standards for the removal of trees will be used as the criteria.  

These guidelines were revised on 12 May 2021 and are subject to change without notice.  Owners are encouraged to obtain written approval from the ARC prior to entering into a binding contract with an installer or manufacturer.  The ARC may withhold approval of any solar panel installation request until the ARC is satisfied that all information the ARC deems reasonable is provided to the ARC and the ARC has had sufficient time, in the opinion of the ARC, to consider and render a decision.   For the purposes of these guidelines, the current version of the Handbook for Single Family Homebuilding in Ford’s Colony applies.