Aug. 22: Cleveland Landmarks Commission
Covered by Documenter Ashley Lubecky (notes)
Solar-powered homes in Detroit-Shoreway
A pair of homeowners in Detroit-Shoreway got what they wanted: Approval from the Cleveland Landmarks Commission to install solar panels on their historic-district homes. But the approvals didn’t come without some debate and dissent, with the commission’s new solar panel policy in part sparking a roughly 90-minute discussion.
Jeffrey Sugalski and Angie Schmitt, owners of a home in the Franklin-West Clinton Historic District, joined the meeting seeking approval to install 29 solar panels on their roof. Sugalski said a suggestion to reduce the number of panels to 21 would lower the percentage of the home’s energy generated by solar.
Schmitt said Cleveland’s policy on solar panels in historic districts appears to be at odds with federal incentives available for taking environmentally friendly actions, such as going solar.
Despite some reservations from Landmarks staff, the commission voted to approve the original 29-panel plan. Commission Member Michael Sanbury cast the lone no vote, saying he was not in favor of the proposed layout of panels.
Homeowner Jeremy Borger received the same outcome for a separate 22-panel installation in the same historic district. YellowLite, Inc., a company that operates in nine states, is doing each installation.
Cleveland Landmarks’ solar panel policy put to test
The Cleveland Landmarks Commission adopted a solar panel policy in April, as noted by Cleveland Documenters. At the time, Karl Brunjes of the Cleveland Landmarks staff reviewed a policy that included guidelines for panel placement, color and weight load. The policy got put to the test with what – according to Director of City Planning Joyce Pan Huang – were the first solar panel cases to come before the commission since it approved the guidelines.
Before diving into the case details, Daniel Musson, Landmarks Commission secretary, addressed what he called “misinformation.” He said feedback from residents about these cases indicated a misunderstanding of the policy’s intent. The commission received 21 public comment letters in support of the two proposed installations in the Franklin-West Clinton Historic District.
The commission supports the installation of solar panels, Musson said, adding that the policy is proof of that. The policy does not state that the commission will only approve an installation that meets certain criteria, he said. “The policy simply offers a path to streamlined approval.”
Huang, who is a voting member of the Landmarks Commission, suggested the city revisit the policy. She said there could be conflicting priorities between climate goals and standards for historic districts set by the National Park Service and the U.S. Secretary of the Interior, which the commission tries to adhere to.
