New Pattonsburg, Missouri Solar Codes & Ordinances

Summer 1996 

ARTICLE XIV 
SPECIAL PROVISIONS 

14-101 Purpose: Special provisions are set forth in this article which deals specifically with unusual or extraordinary circumstances which may, from time to time, come before the municipal planning commission. The special provisions of this article will provide a means by which unusual requests, of a nature specified herein, may be considered and acted upon. 

14-102 Subdivision Provisions; Land Suitability: No land shall be subdivided within the City of Pattonsburg if the parcel or parcels of land proposed for development are deemed unsuitable for a proposed use because of flooding potential, inadequate water supply or sewage disposal facilities, known mining subsidence areas from past mining activities, or any other conditions likely to be harmful to the health, safety or welfare of future residents of the proposed subdivision or of the community. 

14-103 Mineral Exploration and Commercial Mining: Within the corporate limit of the City of Pattonsburg, regardless of zone district, all commercial-scale mineral exploration and mining activities shall be subject to the granting of a conditional use permit prior to the commencing of such work. The permit shall specify the nature of the proposed work, its duration, and the safeguards to be employed in protecting the general public from any excavations left as a result of mineral exploration or commercial mining. 

14-104 Solar Access Provision: The use of solar energy collectors for the purpose of providing energy for heating and/or cooling is a permitted use within all zone districts, whether as a part of a structure or incidental to a group of structures in the nearby vicinity. Use of solar energy collectors is subject to the restraints imposed by the present development pattern and topography found inside the city limits of Pattonsburg plus the zoning, height, and where a strict provision of the zoning ordinance may prohibit adequate solar access, the developer may apply for a conditional use permit from the city by filing said application with the planning commission. The Planning Commission shall weigh the following factors in its evaluation: 

(A) Different levels of solar access available and restrictiveness of ordinance with regard to height, bulk, setback, and related provisions. 

(B) Local energy costs, topography, and aesthetics of the specific area or land tract proposed for solar access use. 

(C) Characteristics of shading due to building and trees in determination of necessary solar access plane. 

(D) Identification of possible conflicts with solar access, including architectural or historic preservation requirements, steep slopes, low and moderate income housing restrictions, and individual landowner preferences.

14-105 Solar Access Requirements: When a solar energy collection system is installed on a lot, accessory structures or vegetation on an abutting lot shall not be located so as to block the solar collectors access to solar energy. The portion of a solar collector that is protected is the portion which: 

(A) Is located so as not to be shaded between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. by a hypothetical 12-foot obstruction located on the lot line; and, 

(B) Has an area not greater than one-half of the heated floor area of the structure, or the largest of the structures, to be served.

14-106 Solar Access Exemptions: Section 10-104 (above) does not apply to structures or vegetation existing in an abutting lot at the time of installation of the solar energy collection system, or the effective date of this ordinance, whichever is later. Said subjection controls any structure erected on, or vegetation planted in, abutting lots after the installation of the solar energy collection system. 

14-107 Solar Energy System Installed; Recording Procedures: A statement that a solar energy collection system is installed in a lot shall be filed and recorded with the Zoning Administrator or City Clerk, and that the date of installation of said system shall be the date of recordation. 

14-108 Unconventional and Earth Sheltered Housing Encouraged: It is recognized that innovative housing designs appear from time to time that encourage energy conservation, create welcome diversity in the community, and which will appeal to home builders and buyers. It is the intent of this ordinance, through the provisions of the Special Use Permit and variance procedures contained herein, to recognize and encourage creative, efficient, and well-designed housing of innovative varieties. Each sheltered housing as one example of newer trends in housing construction, shall generally adhere to the following provisions, based on the issuance by the Board of Aldermen of a Conditional Use Permit and granting of any applicable variances from the strict design provisions of the ordinance. 

(A) Densities or lot areas and lot widths for earth sheltered housing units shall conform to those established residential zone districts R-1 and R-2. 

(B) Earth sheltered housing units may be attached, semi-detached or attached, and shall be permitted in residential districts only. 

(C) Each room of primary living area shall be provided with exterior windows, subject to the following conditions: 

(1) No window facing or within 45 degrees parallel to a side or rear property line shall be constructed within 20 feet of that line. 

(2) No window facing the front property line shall be built within the normally established front yard setback area, except for kitchens and utility areas, which may be located within not less than one-half of the established set-back distance. 

(3) Every living room or bedroom shall have a glassed area of not less than 10 percent of the floor area, and give direct visual access to natural light and open space. 

(D) An outdoor space of not less than 500 square feet shall be provided immediately outside of the walls of the dwelling subject to the following conditions: 

(1) The average grade of elevation of this space shall be no more than two feet apart from the floor level of surrounding rooms, or of the rooms having access to it. 

(2) The minimum horizontal dimensions of the outdoor area shall not be less than 20 feet. 

(3) The average height of the walls surrounding this space shall not exceed 10 feet. 

(4) Where floor area of an earth sheltered dwelling is less than 1,500 square feet, minimum outdoor area may be reduced to 300 square feet, with a minimum outdoor dimension of 15 feet. 

(5) Granting of a conditional use permit and any appropriate variances shall be contingent upon planning commission review of a suitable building plan, and general sketch indicating lot orientation and related requirements.

(A) Conditional Use Permit Required for WECS. 

Installation of a WECS is subject to review by the City Planning Commission, pursuant to sections 201 and 210 of the Public Utilities Regulatory Act of 1978, or laws amendatory thereto. Installation of a WECS within the City of Pattonsburg is subject to the granting of a conditional use permit. 

(B) Design criteria for WECS. 

(1) Height: The height of any WECS tower shall not exceed the height requirement or ceiling for the zone district within which the location of the tower is proposed. 

(2) Setback: The WECS tower shall be setback 1.5 times the height of the tower in all zone districts. 

(3) Fencing: A six (6) foot fence with a locking portal is required around any WECS tower to prevent potential climbing hazards. 

(4) Braking Device: All WECS devices shall have braking systems when winds reach speeds in excess of 40 miles per hour. 

(5) Guidelines: All WECS towers shall have appropriate stabilizing guidelines.

I. Standards for Residential Buildings

View Table

Notes: 

General 
• R-19 in crawlspace underside of floor and rim joist area 
• Vapor retards over bare soil for slab-on grade and for crawl space 
• Air Ducts—R-7 on supply and return air ducts in unconditioned space 
• Water Pipes—insulate hot and cold water pipes in conditioned space for minimum of first 6 feet 
• Minimum .50 CFM exhaust fans in bathrooms 
• Minimum 100 CFM exhaust fans in kitchen 
• Automatic setback thermostats for gas heat 
• Seal all duct joints (supply and return) with duct mastic such as RCD #6, Hardcast or Aqua-Fas 

Windows 
• Double glazed windows with low-E coating 
• Solid core insulated doors 
• Caulk, weatherstrip and seal around window and doorframes 
• Minimize doors and windows on the north wall 

Air Sealing 
• Air barrier house wrap, caulk and seal at top and bottom edges and seams 
• Seal all penetrations through thermal building envelope (such as electrical, plumbing and vent penetrations or chimneys with caulk or foam 
• Seal drywall to framing members or exterior walls and ceiling or use a "vapor barrier" on all walls and ceiling between conditioned and unconditioned space 
• Airtight electrical boxes on exterior walls 
• Install sill sealer under sillplate 
• Caulk sole plate and top and bottom edge of rim joist 
• Average air change .35 to . 5 per hour, but not less than 15 cfm per person 

II. Standards for Small Commercial Buildings (60' x 160')

Schedule (except for security lights) sunset - midnight

Zone control 
Heat pump supplemental heat control 
Automatic shutdown controls 
Zone isolation 
Economizer controls

III. Site Planning Requirements for All Buildings

A. All buildings (other than zero lot line) and landscaping must be designed and located so as not to interfere with the reasonable use of adjoining properties for solar applications. Evergreens should not be planted closer than twenty feet (20') from side lot lines adjoining a building lot. 

B. All residential lots must have trees planted to maximize summer cooling.

IV. Recommended Procedures

A. Citizens should use energy efficient equipment wherever reasonably practical, including energy efficient motors, processes, lighting, and daylighting, passive solar, solar water heaters, geothermal, biomass, load management, photovoltaics, district heating and cogeneration. 

B. Citizens should use and participate in state and federal energy programs including Green Lights, Nice³ KP, Exemplary Buildings, Motor Challenge, PT1 Green Buildings, Rebuild America, SECP, Energy Star Buildings, SBA Pollution Control Loans, SBA EERE Loans and ISTEA Enhancement Funds as well as such other similar programs as may exist from time to time. 

C. Citizens should orient both new construction and relocated buildings to maximize the solar benefits that they or future generations may obtain. 

D. In relocating existing residences to and placing manufactured homes in New Pattonsburg, citizens should: (i) have an energy audit and analysis conducted to identify practical energy conservation measures, (ii) replace heating and cooling equipment and appliances with energy efficient devices, (iii) construct on foundations designed to increase energy efficiency and (iv) weatherize the dwellings. 

E. In constructing new homes in New Pattonsburg, citizens should (i) make maximum use of daylighting, (ii) use roof colors that decrease cooling needs, (iii) landscape to maximize solar and wind benefits and (iv) use energy efficient lighting throughout the house. 

F. Citizens should use vines and trellises to shade outdoor cooling units and the southern exposure of buildings.