Tag Archives: Solar

City of San Marcos Building codes and plan submittal updates announced for residents and contractors

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The City of San Marcos’ building division has made a few important updates to its building design criteria, solar application process and plan review. The City of San Marcos’ building division oversees permit processing, plan review, permit issuance and building inspections on new construction and alterations of residential and commercial structures.

Building design criteria for developments has made an adjustment in relation to the 2023 Building Codes. Design criterion will be based on the 2022 California Building Codes for projects where the permit application is submitted after Jan. 1, 2023. The City utilizes these building codes to perform plan reviews and inspections on all alterations and new construction throughout the City. The building codes help establish the minimum requirements to safeguard the public health, safety and general welfare through structural strength, means of egress, access to people with disabilities, sanitation, adequate lighting and ventilation and energy conservation. For further details, please check the Building Design Criteria webpage on the City website. 

For contractors processing residential solar permits, the City’s new SolarAPP+ feature offers an expedited permit process and permit issuance. SolarAPP+ offers a code-compliance plan check for many residential roof-mounted solar systems. After receiving plan review approval through SolarAPP+ the contractor can process their own permit on the City’s online permitting system (E-TRAKiT) and issue their own building permit. Contractors can check the SolarAPP+ Checklist on the City website to identify which systems are eligible. 

Those who are working to submit a building permit application that requires plan review, must be aware of the plan formatting requirements prior to submitting to the City for review. Plan checks were previously processed via hard copy but are now switching to electronic submittals which have certain requirements for proper submission. The plan submittal requirements can be found on the Plan Check webpage. Once the plans have been formatted per the City’s requirements, applicants can submit their submittal package electronically. Details on submittal guidelines can be found on the City website. 

For additional information, please contact the Building Division, through email at Buildingdivision@san-marcos.net or by phone at (760) 744-1050 ext. 3244.

Solar Project at San Elijo Elementary-Parking lot will be closed

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Solar Project at SEES

Here are the details regarding our Solar Project:

The SMUSD Solar Project is ahead of schedule which means that our SEES construction for solar panel installation in our parking lot will begin this weekend, October 21.  The solar panels will be installed in our parking lot along with shade structure in front of the school at the student waiting area for drive up. There are several benefits coming both to SMUSD and SEES. If you haven’t had an opportunity to look over the resources provided by the District on our solar initiative, I encourage you to CLICK HERE to view the information on the website. You will find a short, overview video, along with more information on the process and FAQ’s.

Our parking lot will be closed for staff and visitors for 6-12 weeks.  We will need your support and patience during this time. The front of our school will have a construction fence as well for the installation of solar panel shade structure in the student waiting area.

We are working closely with Tesla, the installing solar company, to ensure that all safety precautions are

in place during construction. Our site will be staged with temporary fencing for the construction zone

prior to work commencing. All material and equipment deliveries will be coordinated to minimize impact during drop off and pick up times.

Parking:

All staff and visitors will need to park off site. There will be handicap parking available by KOC buildings.  You will need to enter from the drive up lane to access these spots.  We ask for your patience when visiting our campus during construction and parking off site. There will  be increased foot and construction traffic, and we want to make sure that everyone moves about the campus safely. Please park in designated parking spots and always use crosswalks.

Drive-up Drop off/Pick-up:

Drive up will be available for drop off and pick up for students in grades 2-5 as usual. Morning Drop-off for first grade will still be available.  There will be no drop off available for kindergarten during construction.

AM Kindergarten

  • Drop Off:  Students will enter through the KOC gate, hang their back pack up and line up by their classroom door. Students in room 601 will wait at their recess spot which is by room 103.
  • Pick-Up: Parents will enter through the KOC gate and meet their child’s class on the kindergarten playground.
  • There will be no curbside drop off for kindergarten families during construction.
  • Please leave strollers outside the kindergarten playground.

PM Kindergarten/Transitional Kindergarten

  • New Drop off time for PM only: 11:40. Please arrive prior to 11:47am for PM Kindergarten.
  • Drop Off:  Students will enter through the KOC gate, hang their backpack up and line up by their classroom door. Students in room 601 will wait at their recess spot which is by room 103.
  • Pick-Up: Parents will enter through the KOC gate and meet their child’s class on the kindergarten playground.
  • There will be no curbside drop off for kindergarten families during construction.
  • Transitional kindergarten will have regular drop-off with playground time at 11:40-11:50

1st Grade pick-up

  • First Grade families will still pick up near rolling gate. Please look for first grade pick up area which has been moved to just outside the rolling gate near the office.

Grades 2-5 pick-up

  • All students will exit to the rolling gate.
  • The back gate is still an option for those who would like to use the trails.
  • Drive-up will proceed as usual.  Drive up students will wait by the rolling gate.
  • Parents who meet their students outside the gates need to wait for students in waiting zone near kindergarten.

We anticipate taking a few days to get our new routines in place. Please allocate extra time for this transition as everyone learns our new routines.  We ask for all adults to think safety first by using crosswalks and driving cautiously.

We are excited to be part of a project that will provide savings, lesson plans, and educational materials

for all grade levels, as well as help our district go green. We will be sure to keep you updated on the

progress of our construction, but, if you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to email

solar@smusd.org.

SMUSD’s Upcoming Solar Project

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San Marcos Unified is moving forward with an exciting district-wide project to install solar panels at many of our school sites. Tesla (formerly SolarCity) will install, maintain, and operate their solar panel system without any upfront costs to the District.  Savings from this initiative will amount to approximately $30 million dollars over our 20-year contract with Tesla.

For an overview on our solar project, please watch this short video.

Each phase of construction is completed in stages of prep work, fencing, drilling, completing the underground electrical, and installation.  Starting with Paloma Elementary on October 14, 2017, the prep team will begin working on site.  Once the prep work is completed at Paloma, they will move on to the next school in Phase 1, while the drilling team will begin work at Paloma – and so on and so forth.  This process will continue until all of the schools in Phase 1 are completed.  For visuals on this process, click here.

The phases are as follows:

 

  • PHASE 1:  Paloma Elementary, San Elijo Elementary, Woodland Park Middle, and Mission Hills High.
  • PHASE 2:  Twin Oaks Elementary, Joli Ann Elementary, San Marcos Elementary, and Knob Hill Elementary
  • PHASE 3:  Discovery Elementary, San Elijo Middle, Double Peak, San Marcos High, and Carrillo Elementary

 

In addition to working with the Division of State Architects (DSA) to ensure that all applicable rules/regulations are followed, our Facilities and Maintenance team have worked closely with each of our principals to determine the ideal location for the panels.  As many of our sites will have solar panels installed in their parking lot, parking will be affected during the 6-12 week construction period.  Families will receive a letter from their site prior to any work commencing.  You can also check your school’s website for more information on construction dates and parking/drop off adjustments.

For questions or concerns regarding this project, please email solar@smusd.org.