Solar Canopy Approved, Cited as Very Positive

The zoning board unanimously approved an application Tuesday for on Crossing Boulevard, saying there will be no aesthetic detriment to the township.

“We are speaking specifically to a canopy array to be erected in the parking lot,” said zoning board member Donald Sweeney. “I think this is a good plan, and that anything we can do to utilize renewable energy sources is something in the national interest, and Bridgewater’s best interest.”

“It’s not in the industrial zone where we encourage ground-mounted solar arrays, but I don’t see any detriment in terms of the display,” he added.

The application was presented by Martifer Solar USA, a solar systems installer that was hired by Piedmont to install a 1.433-megawatt solar energy system at the complex.

The office complex sees Route 22 to the north, and North Bridge Street across the street on the eastern side.

The applicant had initially presented the application to the board Nov. 15, with a request for a variance to build the solar canopy system over the parking lot, which is normally not permitted in a business zone where the office complex is located.

The plan also calls for the installation of roof-mounted solar panels on a parking facility, but that was not part of the current application before the board. The applicant’s attorney said the company will be coming to the board at a later date with this application.

Richard Pantell, of Princeton Engineering and Solar, said the panels will not affect drivers.

“We are not impacting drivability or parking any more than we would with a light pole,” he said. “There will be no impact on any vehicles in the area, and I don’t see any limits to circulation.”

Several board members questioned whether it would be possible to place the panels on the roof of the building, since that is allowed in a business zone—whereas a canopy array is not a permitted use in an industrial zone.

But Pantell said the design of the roof does not allow for this possibility because of shading.

“The way roof-top systems are adhered to the roof is by gravity,” he said. “You put heavy weights to keep them down.”

“But we have a very high wind zone in this area because it’s so high, so even in the event we choose to do that, we may not get the 30 kilowatts of energy,” he added.

Pantell said the company is hoping to take in 30 kilowatts of energy through the canopy array.

Board member Pushpavati Amin asked if this is the same situation with the second building that has been discussed for solar panels at the office complex, but Pantell said that is not currently part of the application because the company is still looking into certain issues.

Board members said they are especially pleased with planned vegetative buffers that will shield the canopy arrays.

“Adding vegetative buffers, and given the existing ones on North Bridge Street, the negative impacts are very limited, and those that exist will be ameliorated,” Sweeney said. “I find the positives outweigh the negatives.”