Loading...
4.c-d) Staff Report-PCMemoOrdinances 6 2 15 Memorandum To: Scandia Planning Commission Reference: Ordinance Items for June 2 Planning Commission meeting Copies To: Kristina Handt, City Administrator Brenda Eklund, City Clerk Project No.: 15745.000 From: Sherri Buss, RLA AICP, Planner Routing: Date: May 27, 2015 Solar Ordinance The Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on the proposed solar uses ordinance at the June meeting. A copy of the revised draft ordinance is attached. The draft includes:  Updates based on the PC discussion in May that clarifies the differences between solar gardens and solar farms  Includes the PC recommendations regarding minimum lot size, permit types, etc.  Includes the Attorney’s comments. Most of the comments were minor edits. The one substantive addition is Section 2, Item (I), which provides the potential for the City to require a payment in lieu of taxes to compensate the City for any prospective tax revenue that may be lost due to the solar use on a property. The Planner sent a copy of the ordinance to four solar companies, who indicated that their staff would review the draft and provide comments before the Planning Commission meeting. They included:  Geronimo Energy  SunShare  Innovative Power Systems  Novel Energy Their comments are not available yet; any comments received will be presented at the public hearing. Wireless Towers Draft Ordinance The Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on the proposed changes to the Wireless Communications Towers and Antennas Ordinance in June. A copy of the proposed ordinance is attached. Some issues for the Planning Commission to discuss include: Ordinance Public Hearings Scandia Planning Commission Page 2 June 2, 2015  The revised ordinance changes the permit requirements for new antennas from a CUP to an administrative permit when there is no “substantial change”, based on the recent changes in FCC regulations. [The changes to the regulations prohibit local governments from denying the colocation of wireless communications equipment on any existing permitted tower or monopole, so long as it does not substantially change the physical dimensions of the tower or other base structure (such as a building or water tower)].  Additions to towers that result in a “substantial change” would continue to require conditional use permits in districts where this is required under the current ordinance.  The Commission had discussed reducing the permitted height of towers in all districts by 20 feet in response to the change in FCC regulations. The draft makes this change in most districts. However, the maximum height currently permitted for towers that are within ¼ mile of parks, some roadways, and the St. Croix River Overlay District is 35 feet. A reduction to 15 feet would virtually prohibit towers in these areas, and could be challenged by communications providers. The draft suggests that in those areas, the maximum height remain at 35 feet, but that camouflage (also called “stealth”) design should be required for any new towers.