PORTSMOUTH — An effort that began in December to make it easier for homeowners to install solar arrays in the city’s historic district is finally making some progress.
City Councilors Josh Denton and Rich Blalock launched the initiative to take away or at least reduce the city Historic District Commission’s ability to regulate proposed solar arrays.
“My reason for bringing it forward is simply to allow homeowners to do what they can with their property, if they choose to try to mitigate climate change, regardless of impact on the big picture,” Denton said during a recent council meeting.
But he acknowledged Tuesday “the HDC pushed back against it,” and its members and the Planning Board worked on an alternative version “for several months.”
That Planning Board version, was brought forward by City Councilor Beth Moreau as an amendment to the proposed solar array changes.
That version included six guidelines about proposed solar arrays in Portsmouth’s historic district, which commissioners could then require a hearing about, Denton said.
“I took their guidelines, which they spent months working on, and made them requirements,” Denton said. “That way if the applicant meets the requirements, he or she does not need to go before HDC, but can get (city) staff approval of their solar panels.”
He called his proposal an “amendment to the amendment” and it passed 5-4. He voted for it, along with Mayor Deaglan McEachern, and City Councilors John Tabor, Blalock and Andrew Bagley.
Assistant Mayor Joanna Kelley, and Councilors Kate Cook, Vince Lombardi and Moreau voted against it.
The council then voted 6-3 to move the ordinance change to second reading and a public hearing on July 15. Moreau, Bagley and Lombardi voted against it.
To go into effect, the council must pass three readings.
Changes touted as ‘victory’ for homeowners if approved
Denton acknowledged the version of the amendment going to second reading is “not as simple as what Councilor Blalock and I initially proposed. It is more complicated.”
Denton said the amended ordinance change represents “a big compromise.”
But he believes “without a doubt this will be a victory for the homeowners looking to do what they can to mitigate climate change,” if it passes third reading. “It will be a victory for property owners in the historic district.”
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Blalock, who also serves on the HDC, said he is proud of the city’s history and noted his family owns a building in the historic district.
“We understand that value,” Blalock said.
He reminded his fellow councilors he had “three goals” for the initiative. He didn’t want to waste time, he wanted the regulations to be easy to understand, and he “wanted it to be pro solar and allow residents in Portsmouth to put solar on their houses if they wanted to. … I want Portsmouth to be a leader, and I think we should be a leader in climate change.”
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Bagley believes “Portsmouth has to decide do we want to be a leader on things like green energy or climate change, and rising sea levels.”
“I’m worried about the residents, not the tourists,” Bagley added.
Tabor said he supported Denton’s amendment, because it changed the language from solar arrays being “not visible … to minimally visible.”
McEachern credited the compromise Denton “put forth” to “take all the work” done by the HDC and Planning Board and make them rules.
He noted the proposed ordinance change allows “a homeowner to be able to say, ‘I want to reduce or eliminate my energy costs through solar.’”
Lombardi, a former HDC chair, said, “The Portsmouth historic district is one of the most valuable assets in the city of Portsmouth. The Historic District Commission is the board in the city that has the expertise in historical architectural preservation.”
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