Public Hearing to fully implement process in Building Department with a Town Code amendment set for November 22

Farmingville, NY – At the October 18 Town Board meeting, Councilman Steve Fiore-Rosenfeld’s resolution to adopt the Residential Solar Energy System Fast track Permit Application forms was passed unanimously by the Town Board. The resolution was co-sponsored by Councilwoman Walsh and Councilman Mazzei. As a result, the Chief Building Inspector is now currently using the island-wide "universal" forms when residents apply to install roof top solar electric and solar hot water energy systems. These forms were created by a task force under the Suffolk County Planning Commission working closely with LIPA as a way to help applicants and solar energy systems installers to cut through the myriad of building permit forms for each town and village on Long Island.

“Today, there is greater awareness by homeowners of the environmental and economic benefits that can be realized by installing solar energy systems,” said Councilman Steve Fiore-Rosenfeld, who spearheaded the Town’s Go Solar program and other environmental initiatives. “More and more people are installing solar energy systems to make their homes more cost efficient and help reduce our overall carbon footprint, and we must be ready to help them get through the permit process quickly by cutting the red tape and making it more affordable. This is the wave of the future and the Town needs to stand at the forefront and lead the way.”

A second resolution, also sponsored by Councilman Fiore-Rosenfeld, to adopt some minor town code changes to fully implement this Solar Energy System Fast Track process in Brookhaven, has been set for November 22, 2011 at Brookhaven Town Hall in Farmingville at 6:30 p.m.

Once fully adopted, the new local law would create a more streamlined application process for the installation of residential roof top solar electric and solar hot water energy systems. This will save time, eliminate paperwork, reduce expenses and speed up approvals. The new law will follow the standardized Long Island-wide form developed in collaboration with the Suffolk County Planning Commission and LIPA under the Long Island Unified Solar Permitting Initiative for installation of residential solar systems.

As a result of the new law, the Town’s Building Department would impose the reduced $20 application fee for single family and two-family dwellings - which was initially reduced in November 2010 (also sponsored by Councilman Fiore-Rosenfeld) from a sliding scale fee averaging about $220. Under the approved resolution the Chief Building Inspector and Building Department is to work closely with the Town’s Department of Planning, Environment and Land Management to provide a determination on the application within 14 days, if not sooner, upon submission.

Division of Public Information * Office of the Supervisor
One Independence Hill • Farmingville • NY 11738 • Phone (631) 451-6595 • Fax (631) 451-6258