Agenda - Council - 08/08/2023 - Laserfiche WebLink

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1 (A) Exemptions. Passive or building -integrated solar energy systems are exempt from the requirements 2 of this section and shall be regulated as any other building element. 3 (B) Standards. 4 (1) Wall -Mounted or Roof -Mounted Systems 5 a. Building -mounted solar energy systems shall eomplyith all building setbacks in the 6 applicable zoning d+strict and shall not extend beyond the perimeter of the building on 7 which the system is mounted unless the mounting system has been explicitly engineered 8 to safely extend beyond the edge. 9 b. Building -mounted solar energy systems shall be included eomply with the maximum 10 allowable building height for the applicable zoning district. 11 (2) Ground -Mounted Systems 12 a. Ground -mounted solar energy systems shall be located on any property such that the 13 distance to the closest property boundary is at least equal to the height of the solar energy 14 system at its maximum designed tilt. 15 b. In residential districts, front, side, and rear yard setbacks for ground -mounted solar 16 energy systems shall be in accordance with accessory building setbacks. 17 c. In business districts, Ground -mounted solar energy systems may be permitted in any 18 yard. 19 •d. The hcight of ground mountcd solar cncrgy systems at maximum designed tilt shall net 20 exceed the -distance from thc nearest property boundary or thc maximum allowable 21 building hcight for the applicable zoning -district, whichever is more restrictive. 22 f. In residential district, the hcight of ground mounte olar cncrgy systems shall be i-e 23 accordance with accessory building hcight limitations outlined in City Codc section 117- 24 349(d)(6). 25 d. Glare. The panels of ground mounted solar energy systems shall be placed and arranged 26 such that reflected solar radiation or glare shall not be directed onto adjacent buildings, 27 properties or roadways. 28 e. Solar canopies over parking lots, loading areas, or outdoor storage areas are permitted to 29 have the same setbacks as the parking lot, loading area, or outdoor storage area below. 30 31 •d. Easements. Solar cncrgy systems shall not encroach on publ-i-e-drainag-c, utility, roadway or 32 trail casement. 33 (C) Feeder lines. The electrical collection system shall be placed underground within the interior of each 34 property. The collection system may be placed overhead near substations or points of interconnection 35 to the electric grid. 36 f. Aesthetics. All solar cncrgy systems shall be designed to blend into the architecture of thc 37 building and4o minimize glare toward vehicular traffic and adjacent properties to thc extent 38 possible without impacting4hc performance of the systcm. 39 (D) Abandonment. If a solar energy system remains non-functional or inoperative for a continuous period 40 of one year, thc systcm shall bc deemed to bc abandoned and —hall constitute a publ+c nuisance, the 41 owner shall remove the abandoned system at their expense after obtaining a demolition permit. 42 h. permits. A permit() shall be —obtained for any—s-olar cncrgy systcm in accordance with 43 Minnesota State Building Codc prief-to installation. 44 1. Prior to the issuance of a permit for a ground mounted solar cncrgy system in a residential 45 district or on a property abutting a resi-d-e�tial district, the permit applicant must provide 46 an analysis demonstrating that the ground mounted systcm will not impact aesthetics of 47 adjacent residential properties due to glare. 48 49 333 Ground source heat pump systems/Geothermal Systems Page 41 of 160