7.c Draft Ordinance amending Chapter 2 of the Development Code to regulate solar energy systemsOrdinance No. ___ Page 1 of 4
CITY OF SCANDIA
ORDINANCE NO. ___
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING
ORDINANCE NO. 122, THE SCANDIA DEVELOPMENT CODE,
CHAPTER 2, SECTION 4.33, PASSIVE SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS
The City Council of the City of Scandia, Washington County, Minnesota h ereby ordains:
Section 1. Amendment. Ordinance No. 122, the City of Scandia Development Code
(“Development Code”, or “Code”), Chapter Two, Section 4.33, Passive Solar Energy Systems,
shall be amended to read as follows:
4.33 Solar Energy Systems (SES). Solar Energy Systems are a permitted accessory use in all
districts. As an accessory use, the SES is permitted to the extent that it meets the current
annual electrical consumption of the primary use on the parcel on which it is located, and
shall comply with the following requirements:
(1) Approvals required
(A) Building-integrated, passive solar, and roof-mounted SES are allowed as
uses in all zoning districts. Building-integrated and passive solar energy
systems are exempt from the requirements of this section and shall be
regulated as any other building element.
(B) Ground-mounted SES that are a maximum twenty (20) kilowatts in size
are allowed as an accessory use in all zoning districts.
(C) All SES require a building permit. A building permit application must be
submitted and approved by the building official before an accessory solar
energy system is installed. The information required and the procedure to
be followed for all SES applications shall be the same as that required for
a building permit. In addition, the applicant shall submit supplementary
information pertaining to the nature of the accessory solar energy system
including:
1. Total square footage of the solar energy system.
2. Total energy production for the site.
3. To scale horizontal and vertical (elevation) drawings.
4. Drawings must show the location of the system on the building or
on the property including the property lines and proposed
screening, if required.
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(E) Performance Standards
1. Standards for all SES
a. Code Compliance. All SES shall comply with the
Minnesota State Building Code and Electrical Code.
b. Approved Solar Components. All SES components must
have an Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. (UL) listing.
c. Solar Panel Glare. All SES shall be designed and located in
order to prevent reflective glare toward any inhabited
buildings on adjacent properties, as well as adjacent street
rights-of-way. Steps to control glare nuisance may include
selective placement of the system, screening on the side of
the solar array facing the reflectors, reducing use of the
reflector system, or other remedies that limit glare.
d. Utility Notification. No SES shall be installed until
evidence has been given to the City that the owner has
notified the utility company of the customer’s intent to
install an interconnected customer-owned generator. Off-
grid systems are exempt from this requirement.
e. Safety Measures. A clearly-visible warning sign concerning
voltage must be placed at the base of all pad-mounted
transformers and substations. All mechanical equipment,
including any structure for batteries or storage cells, shall
be completely enclosed by a minimum eight (8) foot high
fence with a self-locking gate, and provided with screening
in accordance with the screen and landscaping provisions
of this Development Code.
f. Abandonment. If the solar energy system remains
nonfunctional or inoperative for a continuous period of
twelve (12) months, the system shall be deemed abandoned
and shall constitute a public nuisance. The owner shall
remove the abandoned system at their expense within
ninety (90) days. Removal includes the entire structure
including transmission equipment, structures and
foundations, and the restoration of soil and vegetation.
2. Roof-Mounted and Building-Mounted SES
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a. Roof- and building-mounted SES are not accessory
structures and are excluded from the size and number
calculations for accessory structures.
b. Building and roof-mounted SES shall comply with the
primary structure setbacks for the zoning district on which
the system is located.
c. Building and roof-mounted SES shall not exceed the
maximum allowed building height in any zoning district.
d. Roof-mounted SES on commercial or industrial buildings
shall be installed so that they are compatible with the
building architecture.
e. Roof-mounted SES shall not extend beyond the perimeter
of the building on which the system is mounted or built.
Exterior piping for solar hot water systems shall be allowed
to extend beyond the perimeter of the building.
3. Ground-Mounted SES
a. The maximum permitted size of Ground-mounted SES
shall be twenty (20) kilowatts.
b. Ground-mounted SES are considered accessory structures.
Ground-mounted ASES shall comply with accessory
structure standards for the district in which they are located,
including location at the side or rear of the primary
structure, setbacks, height, and impervious surface
coverage limits. Setbacks will be measured from the
closest point at maximum orientation.
Ground-mounted SES are excluded from the size and
number limitations for accessory structures allowed by lot
size.
OR
The system and the size of the system (square feet) will be
calculated as part of the maximum number and area of
accessory structures allowed by lot size.
c. Ground-mounted SES are not permitted in the shorelands
of public water bodies as defined in Chapter 5, Section 5
and unclassified water bodies.
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d. Ground-mounted SES shall not exceed fifteen (15) feet in
height when oriented at maximum tilt.
e. Ground-mounted SES 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 City may require that SES to be screened
from view from nearby or affected properties using the
same screening elements or may require increased setbacks
to reduce visual impacts on adjacent properties.
Section 2. Effective Date. This ordinance shall be in full force and effect upon its adoption and
publication according to law.
Passed and adopted by the City Council of the City of Scandia this __th day of _______, 2017.
Christine Maefsky, Mayor
ATTEST:
Neil Soltis, Administrator/Clerk