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INVENTORY D. SOLAR ELEMENT INTRODUCTION INTRODUCTION With decreasing energy supplies, increasing energy costs and new emphasis on alternative energy sources, it is important that communi- ties rethink their basic lot and street layouts and building ordinances with new attention to energy efficiency. The City should encourage residents to design buildings to use the least possible energy by allowing more flexible ordinances. This would probably require, for example, waiving height restrictions for windmills and slope restrictions for earth sheltered dwellings. This is a developing field which the City may wish to address more specifically at a later date. For the purposes of this plan, a solar access element is the first step in that larger process. The following inventory and plan are intended to help redefine ordinances and codes in line with principles of solar access. 1. INVENTORY 1) The City of Ramsey has a scattered tree cover throughout the community (see Woodlands in the PROTECTION ELEMENT) and varying topography with slopes predominating in the north (see Slopes in the PROTECTION ELEMENT). Both these conditions, while adding beauty and variety to the area,.place potential constraints upon design for solar access. 2) An additional complication is the platting and street orientation on developed land. Much new housing construction will take place on infill lots which have been platted by old orientation stan- dards bf view and vehicular access. Thus, there is little opportunity for flexible building orientation within the established street and lot pattern. 3) Maximum building heights of 35' can create solar encroachment on adjacent properties where there are smaller lots. 2. PLAN PLAN 1) The City will be willing to grant variances on individual lots to take advantage of solar access. An ordinance shall be adopted allowing for tree removal and clear cutting for solar access except for land within 100' of a public body of water. 3) Flexible setbacks should be allowed. 52