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Commissioner Hunt <br />Chairperson Gengler <br />Motion Carried. <br />aye <br />aye <br />6.03: Public Hearing: Ramsey Landfill Solar Energy System Site Plan Review (Cedar <br />Creek Energy) <br />Public Hearing <br />Chairperson Gengler called the public hearing to order at 7:17 p.m. <br />Presentation <br />Planning Manager Larson presented the staff report stating that staff recommends approval of the <br />Site Plan Review. Items discussed during the presentation included an overview of the landfill site, <br />the proposed layout of the solar array south of the existing landfill mound, the proposed berm <br />extension to provide screening of the solar array from adjacent streets, and the proposed <br />transplanting of existing trees on the landfill property to provide for additional screening. <br />Citizen Innut <br />Alex Gast, 3155 104th Lane NE, Blaine, on behalf of Cedar Creek Energy, stated that they were <br />approached by Connexus and a few other developers to bring a solar array to this site. He <br />explained that all the energy generated will be purchased by Connexus and then used by Connexus <br />customers as an effort to deploy renewable energy sources into its system and to maintain lower <br />rates for customers. He believed that this would be a fantastic use of the land, as buildings cannot <br />be built on the landfill property. He also stated that the solar array layout will allow the Minnesota <br />Pollution Control Agency to continue its efforts in treating the landfill. <br />Commissioner Bauer asked if this would be the final project or whether there would be a possibility <br />for expansion in the future. <br />Mr. Gast replied that this would be the final design for this site. <br />Commissioner VanScoy agreed that this would be a good use for this land, as he was unsure what <br />else could be done with the land. <br />Chairperson Gengler asked if the yellow line shown on the Site Plan is just the border of the project <br />or whether that is some type of fence to be installed. <br />Mr. Gast replied that the yellow line will be a woven fence, which will allow small animals to <br />move through the area. <br />Commissioner Anderson agreed that this would be a good project. <br />Planning Commission/ March 27, 2025 <br />Page 5 of 10 <br />