Solar Arrays for Fully Developed Office Complex
In November 2011, the Zoning Board of Adjustment in Bridgewater, NJ unanimously approved a use variance application by Piedmont Office Realty Trust for placing a canopy of solar panels over the parking lot of an eight-story office building located on Crossing Boulevard close to the Bridgewater Commons Shopping Mall. Phillips Preiss Grygiel provided the planning testimony in support of the application. Aside from arguments related to the inherently beneficial nature of the facility, the firm argued that the project would assist Bridgewater in meeting the sustainability goals of its Master Plan as well as those of the recently adopted State Energy Master Plan.
This was a somewhat novel application in that the solar arrays were provided in conjunction with a fully developed office complex, as opposed to a solar farm on farmland or open space, or on the roof of a large warehouse/industrial building. In phase 2 of the application, PPG will be assisting Piedmont in obtaining a use variance for placing a large-scale canopy of solar arrays over the roof of its parking garage. When complete, the solar arrays will generate a total of 1.433 megawatts of electricity, sufficient to provide for 85% of the energy needs of the complex. The firm was able to persuade the Board, through photo simulations, that the visual impacts on the surrounding land uses would be minimal.