08.b2 Public Comments from July 5 Hearingmail
From: John Herman <
Sent: Thursday, June 23, 2022 9:35 AM
To: mail; c.maefsky; Kenneth Cammilleri
Cc: Mr. Randy and Kathy Ferrin
Subject: Ferrin Solar CUP
We own property adjacent to the Ferrin home. We are very familiar with their current solar installation. The new one
will be equally well sited adjacent to the existing array, and not intrusive to any neighbor. We strongly support their
application.
The City policy for solar should be to approve unless the new facility is a material problem for a neighbor. We need
conversion to clean energy and early adaptors like the Ferrins are a model for others to follow suit. These installations
are, of course, visible, but otherwise have no negative impacts --no on-going activity, no casualty danger, no noise, no
associated traffic or negative attractive nuisance. Normal CUP criteria hardly warrant any review and certainly not
denial here. The only cases where this should be a city concern is where the array is abnormally close to a neighbor,
have shading impacts on a neighbor's land or are visually very intrusive. And, of course solar has manifold overall
benefits to the general public.
Thank you for taking account of our comments. We strongly support the Ferrin CUP application.
John and Diane Herman
Cedar Bend on St. Croix
23355 Quentin Ave. N
Scandia, MN 55073
John—
Diane—
From: Daniel M. Hooley
Sent: Sunday, June 26, 2022 4:02 PM
To: mail <mail@ci.scandia.mn.us>
Subject: Ferrin Solar Project: Conditional Use Permit application
Daniel and Mary Hooley
23401 Quentin Ave N
Scandia, MN 55073
Dear Council Members:
I am writing in support of our neighbors Randy and Kathy Ferrin’s petition for a Conditional Use Permit for the installation of
a private solar array on their property. I have seen the site and the existing array, precisely adjacent to the proposed
additional panels, and it’s an ideal site. Screened from neighbors’ view (though I do not personally object to seeing solar
panels), it would supplement their current set-up and facilitate charging their electric car or, if they get another, cars. It of
course substantially reduces their carbon footprint —helping us all, really. They are doing the right thing.
This is a project, long planned, entirely for their personal use, and we support it without reservation.
Sincerely,
Dan and Mary Hooley
Dan Hooley
Professor of Classics (emeritus),
112 Swallow Hall
University of Missouri
Columbia, MO 65211
Home address: 23401 Quentin Ave N
Scandia, MN 55073
651-231-2892
From: Dr. Thomas Rumreich and Ruth Ronning
Sent: Wednesday, June 22, 2022 2:55 PM
To: mail <mail@ci.scandia.mn.us>
Subject: Randy and Kathy Ferrin CUP request to add a solar array.
We enthusiastically support this proposal! We are neighbors and for environmental reasons hope the
CUP will be approved.
Dr. Thomas Rumreich and Ruth Ronning
July 2, 2022
Dear Scandia City Planning Commission and City Council
We are writing a letter to support Randy and Kathy Ferrin's application for a Conditional Use Permit to
add a new solar array to an existing system on their property on Quentin Ave.
We support this project for environmental, sustainability, and energy independence reasons. In
addition, the solar array would not be visible from Highway 95, Quentin Avenue, our house, or the
closest neighbor's house on St. Croix Trail. Also, there is a mature vegetative screening in all four
directions.
We hope that you will approve this conditional use permit.
Thank you,
Linnea and Bruce Anderson
23499 Quentin Ave N
From: David Borchert
Sent: Monday, July 4, 2022 7:56 PM
To: mail <mail@ci.scandia.mn.us>
Cc: Patricia Borchert
Subject: Randy and Kathy Ferrin CUP application
Pat and I are residents of the Cedarcliff community. Our community common land borders the
Ferrin property along our northern edge. In 2017, after Randy and Kathy installed their original
solar panels, I fought my way through a dense thicket of prickly ash to get to our property line
to get a peak at their new installation. I still couldn't really see the solar panels through the
screening trees and had to invite myself over to get a tour. This solar site is as well screened
from viewing as I can imagine.
In these times of sky high fuel prices, anyone providing inexpensive power to the electric grid is
providing a valuable public service. We strongly support Randy and Kathy in their application.
Dave & Pat Borchert
23239 St Croix Trail N
Scandia