Published 10:30 am Friday, July 3, 2026
By joselylabarrere
DANVILLE, Ky. — The Danville Architectural Heritage Board approved a certificate of appropriateness for a solar panel installation at St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church during a special called meeting June 24, clearing the way for the project to move forward with conditions intended to preserve the church’s historic appearance.
Dan Nolet, a Danville resident, parishioner and chairman of the committee overseeing the project, told board members the proposal is part of a broader initiative by the Catholic Diocese of Lexington to improve energy efficiency at its facilities.
The project calls for solar panels to be installed on the church, the Catholic Center and the rectory to help offset electricity costs. Nolet said the system was designed specifically to minimize its impact within Danville’s historic district.
According to the proposal presented to the board, the panels on the church will be located on rear-facing roof sections that cannot be seen from Main Street. Additional panels planned for the rectory and Catholic Center also are positioned to remain largely out of public view, though portions of the installation will be visible from First Street.
Board members asked whether the panels would sit flush against the roof rather than being elevated. Nolet said the panels will be mounted approximately one-half inch above the roof surface while remaining flat against the roofline.
Staff also reviewed the proposal against historic preservation guidelines. While Danville’s current design standards contain limited guidance on solar installations, staff referenced recommendations from the National Park Service, which support rooftop solar panels on historic buildings when they are installed in a manner that minimizes their visual impact.
The board’s approval includes conditions requiring the panels to be flush mounted and all mounting hardware to be painted to match the roof so the installation does not stand out. Following discussion, the board unanimously approved the certificate of appropriateness with those conditions.
Before the meeting concluded, members discussed improving communication between the Architectural Heritage Board, the Planning and Zoning Commission and the Board of Adjustments. Staff said recent situations highlighted confusion about the heritage board’s authority, the city’s H1 historic overlay district and the roles each board plays in the development review process.
The board agreed to arrange a presentation for Planning and Zoning to explain the Architectural Heritage Board’s responsibilities and the purpose of the H1 overlay district. Members also plan to invite planning officials and city representatives to a future meeting to clarify the appeal process, legal responsibilities and code enforcement within the historic district.
Board members also received an update on the former La Cosa Nostra property, where staff said the matter is being referred to the city’s codes and ordinances department for enforcement action regarding a sign violation.
Additional discussion included preparations for adopting new board goals, officer nominations for the coming year and continued revisions to the city’s historic district design guidelines. Staff said proposed changes will include updated language regarding signage definitions and revisions previously discussed by the board.
Near the end of the meeting, members praised the recently completed downtown Danville mural, complimenting its design and noting that the project followed the appropriate review process before installation.
The full meeting can be viewed on the City of Danville’s YouTube channel.

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