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VIENNA -- The Vienna Zoning Commission discussed new solar panel regulations with Trustee Phil Pegg and Trumbull County Planning Commission Director Julie Green during its meeting Tuesday.
Zoning Inspector Mark Posey said there are no laws or regulations in place for noncommercial solar panels in the township. He also said the goal of this meeting was to "get some clarification."
Pegg said regulations can only be placed on solar panels under 50 megawatts. Anything over 50 megawatts would have to be regulated by the commissioners.
"You guys are allowed to set setbacks," Pegg said to the zoning commission. "You can (establish things like) how far from the property line (or) how far from the road. How far do you have to be from a church (or) from a school?"
Green said the zoning commission also can choose which size installations it wants to allow in different townships. She also said they can restrict the area and the acreage.
Pegg said solar panels already are restricted by the Federal Aviation Administration in areas near military installations.
Vienna trustees prohibited commercial solar panel farms in April. At that time, trustees said a main reason the prohibition was added to the zoning was concern about reflecting solar panels causing problems for pilots leaving the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport and the Youngstown Air Reserve Station, which are in the township.
Green said the zoning commission should consider "the pros and cons" before adopting resolutions for solar panels.
"We're trying to explain that the Department of Defense looks at all the variables when they're deciding whether or not to shutter an installation and this is the best way forward (and the) best way to preserve YARS long term," Green said. "The other thing is, you don't have to adopt every single element."