5.b Draft Ordinance Accessory Solar Energy SystemsCITY OF SCANDIA
ORDINANCE NO.
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING
ORDINANCE NO. 122, THE SCANDIA DEVELOPMENT CODE,
CHAPTER 1, SECTION 4.2 — DEFINITIONS AND CHAPTER 2, SECTION 4,33 Deleted: 32,
PASSIVE SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS
The City Council of the City of Scandia, Washington County, Minnesota hereby ordains:
Section 1. Amendment. Ordinance No. 122, the City of Scandia Development Code
("Development Code" or "Code"), Chapter One, Section 4.2, Definitions, shall be amended to
add the following definitions:
(1) Solar Collector: A device, structure or a part of a device or structure for which the
primary purpose is to capture sunlight and transform it into thermal, mechanical,
chemical or electrical energy.
(2) Solar Energy: Radiant energy received from the sun that can be collected in the form
of heat or light by a solar collector.
(3) Solar Energy System A device or structural design feature, a substantial
purpose of which is to provide daylight for interior lighting or provide for the
collection, storage and distribution of solar energy for heating or cooling, electricity
generation, or water heating.
4) Solar Enerev Svstem. Buildine-Inteerated: A solar enerev system that is an inteeral
part of a principal or accessory building, replacing or substituting for an architectural
or structural component of the building. Building integrated systems include, but are
not limited to, photovoltaic or hot water solar energV systems that are contained
within or substitute for roofint materials. windows. skvliahts. awnines and shade
devices.
(5) Solar Energy System, Ground -Mounted: A freestanding solar system mounted
directly to the ground using a rack or pole rather than being mounted on a building
(6) Solar Energy System, Passive: A system that captures solar light or heat without
transforming it to another form of energy or transferring the energy via a heat
exchanger.
lection 2. Amendment. Ordinance No. 122, the City of Scandia Development Code Deleted: ¶
("Development Code", or "Code"), Chapter Two, Section 4.33, Passive Solar Energy Systems,
shall be amended to read as follows:
Deleted: ¶
Ordinance No. Page 1 of 5
districts. As an accessory use, an SES is pennitted to the extent that it operates primarily
to provide solar energy for the primary use and the permitted accessory uses on the
(1) Approvals required
and roof-mounted.SES are allowed as
}uses}n all zoning districts. Building -integrated and passive solar enel
systems are exempt from the requirements of this section and shall be
regulated as any other building element. , ,
hundredsquare feet 800 sq. ft. 's allowed as an accessory use jn all
zoning districts. A ground -mounted SES with a footprint that exceeds 800
C) All SES reauire a buildine Dermit. A buildine hermit aDnlication 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.
iELPerformance Standards
Deleted: Passive solar energy systems
Deleted: Passive solar energy systems are exempt from the
requirements of this section and shall be regulated as any other
building element.
Deleted: ¶
Deleted: Buildi
Deleted: RSES
Deleted: access
Deleted: to residential uses
Deleted: No Township land use permit is recruited.
Deleted: The owner or contractor shall obtain a building permit
and related permits before installing a building -integrated or roof -
mounted RSES.
Deleted: G
Deleted: RSES
Deleted: that are
Deleted: ten
Deleted: (10) kilowatts
Deleted: and less are
Deleted: to residential uses
Deleted: Ground -mounted RSES that are greater than ten (10)
kilowatts in size require a Conditional Use Permit.
Deleted: I
,Standards for all SAES —1 Deleted:
Deleted: RSES
a. Code Compliance. All ES shall comply with the Deleted: Electrical RSES components must have an Underwriters
Minnesota State Building Code and Electrical Code. Laboratory (UL) listing.
b. Approved Solar Components. A11 ,5ES components must Deleted: All RSES shall comply with the Minnesota state
have an Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. (UL) listing. Building Code and Electrical Code
Ordinance No. Page 2 of 5
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 arra,, facing the reflectors, reducing use of the
reflector system, or other remedies that limit glare.
d. Utilitv 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. Safetv Measures. A clearlv-visible warning sign concernin
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 energv 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.
=Mounted
a. Roof- and building -mounted SES are not accesso
structures and are excluded from the size and number
limitations for accessory structures in this Development
Code.
b. Building and -roof -mounted -SES shall comply with the
structure setbacks for the zoning district on which
the system is located.
Deleted: <#>I
Deleted: RSES
Deleted: R
Deleted: and building -integrated R
Deleted: accessory
j3uilding and roof-mounted,SES shall not exceed the ,; Deleted: Root -mounted and building -integrated
maximum allowed building height in any zoning district. Deleted: R
Ordinance No. Page 3 of 5
d. Roof -mounted SES on commercial or industrial buildings
shall be installed so that they are compatible with the
building architecture.
C. 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.
a. One around -mounted SES with a footprint un to a
maximum eight hundred square feet (,800 sq. ft.) is allowed
as an accessory use in all zoning districts. A ground -
mounted SES with a footprint that exceeds 800 sq. ft. shall
require a conditional use permit.
b. Ground -mounted SES are excluded from the size and
number limitations for accessory structures permitted by
this Development Code.
C. Ground -mounted SES are excluded from the lot coverage
requirements of the Development Code if the area under
height when oriented at maximum tilt.
e. Ground -mounted SES shall be screened from view from the
public right of way if. 1) the SES requires approval of a
CUP, 2) if the SES is placed on a parcel located on a
lakeshore, or 3) if the SES is located within one hundred
feet (,100') of a roadway right-of-way. Screening may be
accomplished by using setbacks, berming, existing
vegetation, landscaping, or a combination thereof.
Ordinance No. Page 4 of 5
Deleted: <#>The collector surface and mounting devices for Roof -
mounted RSES shall not extend beyond the exterior perimeter of the
building on which the system is mounted or built, unless the setback
standards are not violated. Exterior piping for solar hot water
systems shall be allowed to extend beyond the perimeter of the
building on a side yard exposure.¶
Deleted: R
Deleted: Ground -mounted RSES shall comply with the accessory
structure standards for the district in which they are located,
including setback, height, and impervious surface coverage limits.
Deleted: Ground -mounted RSES may not extend into the side -
yard or rear -yard setback when oriented at minimum design tilt. ¶
Ground -mounted RSES are not permitted in Shoreland Districts.¶
The collector surface of a Ground -mounted RSES located outside
Shoreland Districts is not considered an impervious surface if the
Ground -mounted RSES has natural vegetated ground cover under
and between the collectors and surrounding the system foundations
or mounting devices.¶
No Ground -mounted RSES shall cover or encompass more than 10
percent of the total lot.¶
The height of Ground -mounted RSES shall not exceed 15 feet.
Deleted: <#> ¶
Ground -mounted RSES shall not be counted as an accessory
structure for the purpose of meeting limits on the total number and
square footage of accessory structures in allowed all zoning districts.,
Section 3. Effective Date. This ordinance shall be in full force and effect upon its adoption and Deleted: 2
publication according to law.
Deleted:
Passed and adopted by the City Council of the City of Scandia thisJ-Lthday of January,201. ;., Deleted: 17th
Deleted: 7
Deleted: ¶
Christine Maefsky, Mayor ¶
ATTEST:
Neil Soltis, Administrator/Clerk
Ordinance No. — Page 5 of 5
Deleted: ¶
Deleted: ¶