Solar Ordinance, Budget to Fill Committee Meeting

Conversations will continue on the proposed solar ordinance during Monday’s Bedminster township committee meeting as the public is invited to discuss their thoughts after a planned vote was canceled because of questions about regulations.

The committee withdrew the ordinance from a planned discussion at a recent Land Use Board meeting because of questions about its regulations, particularly  with regard to the size of solar panels that could be constructed on a 1-acre residential lot.

Committee members said it might make more sense to require small sized panels for those lots.

The ordinance is designed to give regulations for different types of solar panels that could be constructed throughout the township. Once the committee agrees on a final draft of the ordinance—and reintroduces it if necessary—it will go to the Land Use Board for determination as to whether it is in compliance with the township’s master plan.

That will be expected sometime in April.

Also at Monday’s meeting, township administrator Judy Sullivan will give a presentation on the proposed budget that will increase taxes by $25.

The budget was introduced at $10.5 million, an increase of 1.97 percent over the 2012 budget.

The budget includes $1 million for capitol projects, and a decrease in police pension costs, plus energy savings because of the solar canopy in the rear parking lot of the municipal building.

The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. in the municipal building on Miller Lane.