01-28-1981 Council Agenda - Laserfiche WebLink

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The second part of the process is to establish policies. A number of policies have been suggested and are included in the Development Framework Addendum. Because solor housing is a new topic, it is suggested that these policies be reviewed and revised periodically as the City becomes more aware of the type of solar access it would like to and will need to provide. The policies should provide a starting point for discussion of solar energy as an alternative. There are a variety of approaches which could be considered by the City relative to the use of solar energy. Obviously, the City can elect to take a very active and positive approach to the provision of solar energy, or it could take the rather passive role of allowing it in certain situations, or it could make no provisions at all in its ordinances for solar housing. The latter approach does not seem reasonable in view of the increasing need for alternative energy solutions. In taking the active approach, the City could revise its zoning ordinances to enable solar housing in all residential districts. This would mean that regardless of the plans of the developer, the possibility for future use of the site for conversion to solar housing would be kept open. Within this approach, there are also a number of alternatives the City could consider. The following zoning ordinance changes could be considered to enable future solar access: o Making solar energy a permitted use. ✓ Reducing height restrictions on solar collectors. o Placing greater restrictions on permissible building heights in residential districts. © Exempting solar apparatus and overhangs from yard projection restrictions. e Exempting detached collectors from lot coverage restrictions. ✓ Modifying frontage requirements for solar access. • Modifying setback requirements for solar access. © Establishing bulk plan and building envelope regulations. Within a less active approach, the City could decide to permit solar energy use in resi- dential districts subject to the conditional use procedure or the planned unit development procedure. In either of these cases, the applicant would be required to meet certain performance guidelines, and the application would be reviewed to ensure that provisions for solar access are adequate. The City may want to establish a policy that very actively encourages planned unit developments of this nature by providing density bonuses. A -7 17