Minutes - Planning Commission - 09/07/2017

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Commissioner VanScoy asked if the recitals were a change to the City approval process. Community Development Director Gladhill commented on the City's new approval process noting the recitals had taken the place of Findings of Fact. Motion by Commissioner VanScoy, seconded by Commissioner Surma, to recommend that City Council adopt Resolution #17-09-209 approving a Conditional Use Permit contingent upon the terms of the Conditional Use Permit and Zoning Code. Motion Carried. Voting Yes: Chairperson Bauer, Commissioners VanScoy, Surma, Anderson, Gengler, and Nosan. Voting No: None. Absent: Commissioner Brauer. 5.02: Public Hearing: Consider Multiple Actions Related to a Request to Install and Maintain a Ground -Mounted Solar Energy System on the Property legally described as Lot 3, Block 1 River Crossing Addition (Project No. 17-135); Case of Connexus Energy. 1. Appeal for issuance of a Development Permit on an officially mapped parcel. 2. Zoning Amendment to include Solar Energy Systems as a Principal Use with the issuance of a Conditional Use Permit in the Public/Quasi-Public District. 3. Zoning Amendment to Rezone a Property from R-2 Residential to Public/Quasi Public. 4. Conditional Use Permit to Install and Maintain a Solar Energy System. Public Hearing Chairperson Bauer called the public hearing to order at 7:08 p.m. Presentation Community Development Director Gladhill presented the staff report stating 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 (the "Subject Property"). The system would have the capability of producing 3.5 megawatts (MW) with ground mounted solar photovoltaic panels and would include 6 MW of battery energy storage. This is one of three (3) sites within Anoka County that Connexus Energy is developing to produce solar energy. Community Development Director Gladhill reported the Subject Property is owned by Anoka County and would be leased by Connexus Energy. 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. Community Development Director Gladhill explained both the current zoning standards for solar energy systems and the information submitted by Connexus are attached for reference. The final Planning Commission/September 7, 2017 Page 3 of 13