5.a1 SolarProjectsandOrdinanceUpdate 3 2 16
Memorandum
To: Scandia Planning Commission Reference: Solar Gardens Update and Ordinance
Items
Copies To: Neil Soltis, City Administrator
Brenda Eklund, Clerk
Project No.: 16023.000
From: Sherri Buss RLA AICP,
Planner
Routing:
Date: February 25, 2016
Update on Forest Lake Holdco Solar Garden
The conditions for approval of the CUP for the Forest Lake Holdco Solar Garden required that the
applicant revise the plans and submit some additional items. The applicant submitted the items to the
City this month. The submittals and outcomes included the following:
Staff reviewed the landscape plan and determined that it met the CUP and ordinance
requirements for screening from Manning Avenue. It requires one addition—identified below
under transformer/metering equipment.
The project added a transformer box. Staff determined that the transformer box falls under the
definition of an Essential Service. The performance standards in the ordinance require that the
structure be landscaped to screen it from view from property lines and the public road. Staff
requested that the applicant revise the landscape plan to include screening for the transformer
box. On past projects, the City has recommended that screening include a mix of coniferous
trees/shrubs and deciduous shrubs for Essential Service structures.
The applicant requested that the City reduce the width requirement for the access roads. Mike
Hinz, the City’s Fire and Rescue Chief, provided the following comment: “After looking at the
plan, I feel that the access road should stay at the 20 foot width. The main reason for this is that
we need the ability to have two vehicles that could both be 8.5’ wide pass each other. We also
need to keep the option available for the use of an Arial fire truck—the truck requires 16-20 feet
of stable ground for their out-riggers.”
Ryan Goodman, the City Engineer provided the following comment: “The City needs to verify
the distance/spacing between the edges of solar panels along the service roads as well and
make sure they remain at least 20’ apart.”
Staff determined that the proposed fence will require an Administrative permit.
Solar Farms and Gardens Update Memo
Scandia Planning Commission Page 2 March 2, 2016
New Issue for Solar Gardens and Farms: Communications Pole
The City Administrator and Attorney are working on a new issue related to a communications pole that
may be needed for the Forest Lake Holdco project. The Administrator’s memo on the issue is included
in the packet, and will be discussed at the meeting on March 2.
Another New Issue: Solar Gardens on Ag Preserves Sites
The Solar Ordinance permits Solar Farms and Gardens on Ag Preserves sites. This month we had an
application that included sites within the Ag Preserves District. The City reviews landowner
applications for Ag Preserves designations, and certifies them for the County. As we reviewed the
certifications for the 2 parcels involved in the applications, we found the following:
One of the parcels left the Ag Preserves program in 2012, but the landowner had not informed
the City. This parcel would be eligible to have a solar farm, but the zoning should be changed
to AG C to reflect that the parcel is no longer in the Ag Preserves program.
The other parcel is still in the Ag Preserves Program. However, the program requirements and
certification for this site would not allow this use on the parcel—the certification limits the uses to
a limited list of agriculture uses only. We discussed this with the applicant, and they are working
on revising the application based on this information.
The City may need to update its Solar Ordinance to address the status of properties in the Ag
Preserves District. The City only updates the Zoning Map for this District once every 10 years, during
the Comprehensive Plan process, when the Metro Council provides a list of parcels currently in the
program to all communities. Staff will provide a recommendation on potential updates to the Planning
Commission at the April meeting.
The Solar Systems use is still evolving!