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The Richmond City Council recently loosened restrictions on solar collector use in the city, an ordinance change made due to an increase in Board of Zoning Appeals requests for solar variances.

On May 16 during a regular meeting, the Richmond City Council unanimously approved the second reading and adoption of ordinance number 156-31, and a text amendment to section 7.04, solar collectors and similar facilities. The change updates how and where solar collectors are permitted.

“The current solar ordinance limits the total area of solar collectors to 32 square feet, which is very restrictive,” City Manager Jon Moore said. “The average variance request that our BZA has been reviewing over the last couple of months is between 400 and 500 square feet.”

Mayor Tim Rix said there have been three variance requests within the past several months. The requests have been for solar installations on homes throughout the city. DTE limits how large a solar installation can be based on home size, officials said.

Moore said the city’s BZA and planning commission have done extensive research on the subject, and the planning commission conducted a public hearing on the ordinance April 14.

The planning commission reviewed the solar ordinance for the first time at their Oct. 14, 2021, regular meeting, when the city planner provided several solar ordinances from other communities for review. The commission reached a consensus that an ordinance from Cooper Township was the most complete, according to council brief information.

On Feb. 10 during a planning commission meeting, the commission conducted a question and answer session with Rick Coletti of Orange Cell Solar about residential solar installations. On March 10, the planning commission reviewed the proposed solar ordinance and were in agreement with proposed changes. However the mayor and a member of the public raised some concerns. The city planner then reviewed and investigated documentation regarding solar collector types, council briefs indicate.

Council briefs detailed the two main types of solar collectors in the market. One type is the popular photovoltaic panel, which uses radiation from the sun to create DC Current power that can be stored in batteries on-site or can be converted to AC Current power for use in a power grid. This type of collector contains no antifreeze.

A second type of solar collector does have antifreeze, and is used to create hot water within a home or business. These solar collectors have antifreeze tubes running through them, which heats the antifreeze, which travels to a heat exchanger in lieu of, or to complement, a hot water heater. The most common antifreeze used in this type of installation is propylene glycol, which is not harmful to the environment.

An introduction and first reading on the ordinance came before council on May 2.

“I don’t believe we have received any comments from the public. Our recommendation is to go along with the planning commission who recommended that you approve this ordinance, and previous council action on May 2, you did give introduction and first reading,” Moore said.

Rix said the planning commission has reviewed the ordinance changes with Planning and Economic Development Director Troy Jeschke and his department, as well as Moore.

“I think we have got a good, good document here, based on another community that has had it for awhile and it has worked well for them, as far as we have been able to tell,” Rix said.

On May 2, Jeschke described the process for a resident to get a solar panel. He said that normally applications come from a solar company requesting solar for a property owner.

“We then turn it in to a building permit where I review the physical location,” Jeschke said on May 2.

Jeschke also said on May 2 that the information then goes to a building inspector. Moore said that once it reaches the building level, information goes to the building inspector and the electrical inspector. Rix said DTE Energy also examines the system before activation.

Also on May 16, the Richmond City Council:

• Confirmed the city manager’s appointment of a new city clerk/human resource assistant, Heather McCallister. The confirmation included that term of service is indefinite, and the person in this position serves at the pleasure of the city manager. Advertised and budgeted salary range for the position is $50,000 to $64,000. Earlier in the spring, the city manager formed a city clerk selection committee. About 25 applications were submitted, Moore said, and five candidates were interviewed. Moore said McCallister will have a June 6 start date. McCallister has worked for the city of Mount Clemens Library for 32 years, most recently as assistant director.

• Approved a special event request for FreeStar Financial Credit Union to use the pavilion and area of Beebe Street Memorial Park around the pavilion for a community welcoming event on May 21. The credit union has obtained a facility on Gratiot Avenue.

• Approved consideration of a special event request from Chaps Food and Spirits to host a classic car show on July 30 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with time allotted for setup and the show running from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Chaps will use the city’s portion and Chaps’ portion of the Forest Street parking lot, and Monroe Street from Forest Street up to a bank drive-thru.

• Accepted the resignation of Michelle Aiken from the recreation board.

Nicole Tuttle is a freelance reporter for MediaNews Group.

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