Loading...
9.a 1 CouncilMemoAmerescoSolarGarden 8.16.16 Memorandum To: Scandia City Council Reference: Ameresco Solar Garden— Additional Information for August 16 Council Meeting Copies To: Neil Soltis, City Administrator Brenda Eklund, City Clerk Project No.: 16022.006 From: Sherri Buss, RLA AICP, Planner Routing: Date: August 10, 2016 Background The City Council reviewed the Ameresco application for a Solar Garden on a parcel on Oldfield Avenue near 236th Street at its meeting on June 21. The Council identified several issues of concern, and requested additional information from the applicants, including the following:  A revised landscape showing the locations and species of trees, shrubs, and ground cover proposed on the site  The landscape plan should include a schedule that shows the species, size, and number of trees proposed  The conifers in the plan should be shown as 10’ stock at planting, or indicate why this is not feasible and why 6-8’ plants are proposed. The City Engineer requested the following information:  The plans should show the required right-of-way along Oldfield Avenue North as noted in the conditions for approval  The proposed berm should be located within the required right-of-way  No trees should be located within the required right-of-way  The grading plan should maintain the existing drainage in the ditch along Oldfield Avenue North Information submitted—Staff Review The applicants’ memo dated August 9, 2015 lists the information requested, and reviews the information provided. The information provided includes all of the information requested. Staff reviewed the information and have the following comments:  Two of the species included in the landscape plan are not included in the list of recommended species listed in the Development Code (Chapter 2, Section 3.12 [4] [G]). The applicants should replace the Austrian Pine (Pinus nigra) and Ninebark Ameresco/Oldfield Solar Garden Page 2 August 16, 2016 Scandia City Council (Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Diablo’) with species that are included in the list of recommended plant materials in Scandia’s Code.  The major tree groups meet the 10’ height recommended by the Council. Some of the trees added to fill-in existing screening are 6-8’ conifers. Additional Public Comments The City received several emails from individuals recommending changes in the condition regarding the seed mix. The comments generally recommended inclusion of language to require a local seed source and pollinator-friendly species. The comments recommended addition of language requiring the applicant to utilize the Minnesota DNR and Board of Water and Soil Resources guidelines for solar projects. The proposed conditions have been revised to include the word “local” and a reference to the DNR and BWSR guidelines. The language in the condition matches the language in legislation adopted by the Minnesota Legislature in 2016 requiring solar gardens to use the DNR Guidelines. The City received a petition from some residents on July 14 that expresses their concerns about the proposed project. In general, the concerns were raised at the public hearing, and the staff report and Planning Commission discussion and recommendations addressed the concerns that are related to the Development Code requirements. Staff can discuss the concerns and ordinance requirements with the Council if requested at the meeting on August 16. Key Issues for Discussion The central issue related to this application throughout the City’s review has been whether the proposed project meets the following performance standard in the Development Code for solar gardens:  Solar farms and community solar gardens shall be screened from view from the public right-of-way to the extent possible by setbacks, berming, existing vegetation, landscaping, or a combination thereof. The applicants have revised the plans and submittals to provide screening for the site using setbacks, berming, existing vegetation, and landscaping. They provided additional cross- sections showing the topography of the parcel and viewshed from Oldfield Road, and have acknowledged that the site will not be fully screened from all views from all roadways near the site. The proposed size and number of trees and shrubs proposed address the Council’s request The Council should review the materials submitted, and determine whether the applicants have meet the requirement to screen the project from the public right-of-way to the extent possible. Revised resolution and conditions Staff have attached a revised resolution and conditions for Council consideration on August 16.