Agenda - Environmental Policy Board - 08/21/2017

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Board Member Hiatt asked if the City has experience with this developer and whether the developer is attempting to aggressively market the remainder of the site for development. City Planner Anderson stated that the developer is comfortable that there is a market for this development, as they have heavily invested their own funds. He confirmed that the City has positive experience with this developer. Councilmember LeTourneau stated that the developer is great and although he has trust in the developer, the details are also memorialized in the agreements. He stated that this is a reasonably wooded area that will not be very wooded as it develops because it will be an industrial setting. He stated that he likes the idea that the developer has knowledge on the site lines and where trees should be placed. He stated that the developer wants the business park to be visible from the highway, which he also agrees is well thought out. He stated that he agrees with the option of payment in lieu; meaning that if the necessary inches are not provided, the City have the payment into the forestry fund. Board Member Hiatt referenced the residential properties to the north and asked if they are aware that the land is zoned for industrial. City Planner Anderson replied that the parcel to the north was originally planned for Legacy Christian Academy, but that project never materialized and there was a Comprehensive Plan amendment which involved public input for the rezoning of that property. He stated that the applicant, PSD, and the neighboring parcel owner, Capstone, have been working together to ensure there will be adequate screening provided between the two sites. Motion by Board Member Covart and seconded by Board Member Hiatt to recommend approval of the Landscape Plan and Tree Inventory Plan contingent upon compliance with the Staff Review Letter. Motion carried. Voting Yes: Acting Chairperson Valentine, Board Member Covart, Hiatt, Anderson, and Bernard. Voting No: None. Absent: Chairperson Stodola and Board Member Trossen. 5.03: Discuss Potential Zoning Amendment for Solar Improvements City Planner Anderson presented the staff report. He explained that Connexus Energy has applied for a Zoning Amendment and a Conditional Use Permit to construct a new solar garden on the property legally described as Lot 3 Block 1 River Crossing Addition. He stated that the subject property is owned by Anoka County and would be leased by Connexus Energy. He noted that when the City contemplated solar energy systems several years ago, the Zoning Code was amended to consider ground or building mounted solar energy systems as a permitted accessory use in any zoning district; However, it did not account for or address the possibility of a solar energy system being the principal use of a property, as would be the case with Connexus' proposal. He asked for input the Board may have on a potential Zoning Amendment that would allow for solar energy systems to be a principal use on a property with the issuance of a Conditional Use Permit. He stated that the intention would be to bring forward a zoning amendment in August, noting that he would coordinate with the Community Development Director and Economic Development Manager to determine if the City would like to see this as a principal use. He displayed a sketch Environmental Policy Board / July 17, 2017 Page 4 of 6