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Commissioner VanScoy understood that a PUD was needed for this development and noted the <br />greenway portion of the project would greatly benefit the City. However, believed the proposed <br />transition was still inadequate. He recommended more be done for this portion of the project. <br />Motion Carried. Voting Yes: Chairperson Bauer, Commissioners Anderson, Gengler, Nosan, <br />Surma, and VanScoy. Voting No: Brauer. Absent: None. <br />6. COMMISSION BUSINESS <br />6.01: Consider Multiple Actions Related to a Request to Install and Maintain a Ground - <br />Mounted Solar Energy System on the Property Legally Described as Lot 3, Block 1 <br />River Crossing Addition (Project No. 17-135); Case of Connexus Energy. <br />1. Appeal for issuance of a Development Permit on an officially mapped parcel. <br />2. Zoning Amendment to include Solar Energy Systems as a Principal Use with the <br />issuance of a Conditional Use Permit in the Public/Quasi-Public District. <br />3. Zoning Amendment to rezone a property from R-2 Residential to Public/Quasi <br />Public. <br />4. Conditional Use Permit to install and maintain a Solar Energy System. <br />Motion by Commissioner VanScoy, seconded by Commissioner Anderson, to remove this item <br />from the table. <br />Motion Carried. Voting Yes: Chairperson Bauer, Commissioners VanScoy, Anderson, Brauer, <br />Gengler, Nosan, and Surma. Voting No: None. Absent: None. <br />Presentation <br />City Planner Anderson presented the Staff Report stating this case was originally reviewed by the <br />Planning Commission at their September 7, 2017 meeting. A Public Hearing was held (and closed) <br />that evening; however, the Planning Commission tabled action so that the Economic Development <br />Authority (EDA) had an opportunity to review and provide feedback specifically on the potential <br />use of the Connexus Energy campus for the proposed solar farm installation. <br />Assistant City Administrator/Economic Development Manager Brama reported the EDA reviewed <br />this case at their September 14, 2017 meeting. Note that their review was specific to the potential <br />use of the outlot owned by Connexus Energy that is part of Connexus' corporate campus. The <br />outlot is essentially rectangular in shape and is approximately 17.5 acres in size. The EDA <br />unanimously supported reserving this land for future economic growth opportunities <br />(commercial/industrial development) rather than for the solar farm being considered. The EDA <br />did not provide any input or feedback on the Anoka County -owned site that is currently being <br />considered for the solar farm. Their motion specifically recommended to City Council that the <br />existing Connexus Energy outlot be reserved for future commercial/industrial use rather than for a <br />solar farm. Staff reported the Environmental Policy Board recommended approval of the Zoning <br />Planning Commission/October 12, 2017 <br />Page 8 of 15 <br />