Date: January 17, 2019
To: Members of the Planning Commission
From: Scott Tempel, City Planner
Title
Public Hearing on Conditional Use Permit for 1MW Community Solar Garden
Body
Action Requested:
The Planning Commission is requested to hold a public hearing and provide a recommendation to City Council on a proposed Community Solar Garden.
Summary Report:
The Community Development Department received a proposal from Nokomis Energy for a community solar garden (CSG) conditional use permit (CUP) to permit a Photovoltaic Ground lMWac Solar Energy System in the Agricultural Zoning District (A-S). The project is located at 320th Street and Garrett Avenue in Dakota County. Chub Garden LLC will consist of approximately 3700 to 4000 panels on roughly 5 acres of land. The CSG will have a contract life of 25 years and a useful life of 35 years. Once operating, this project will deliver ~1,800,000 kWh of clean, local energy annually to the surrounding community for 25+ years with only the sun as feedstock. As part of Xcel Energy's Solar*Rewards Community Program, Xcel Energy customers may subscribe to a solar garden and receive a credit on their monthly Xcel Energy bill based upon the production of their garden subscription.
Conditional Use Permit Analysis:
The site is currently located in the A-S Agricultural zoning district. The proposed project is allowed as a Conditional Use according to Table 2.7-1: Permitted Principal Uses. A CUP follows the Type 4 Review Procedure found in Section 5.4.7 of the LDC. When reviewing a CUP, the Planning Commission is to consider the following criteria:
a) The proposed use is allowed as a conditional use in the district for which it is proposed.
A Community Solar Garden is allowed as a conditional use in the A-S zone district according to Table 2.7-1 of the LDC.
b) The conditional use will be in accordance with the general objectives, or with any specific objective, of the city's comprehensive plan and this LDC.
The cond...
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