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Planning & Zoning Board <br />June 9, 2021 <br />Page 7 <br /> <br />APPROVED MINUTES <br />Ms. Kendra Lindahl, Landform, presented a summary of Zoning Ordinance changes <br />to the General Provisions section needed to comply with State Law, eliminate <br />inconsistencies in the document, better reflect City goals and make the ordinance <br />easier to read and understand. This is an initial draft of key concepts. The Planning <br />& Zoning Board should review the draft changes recommended by staff and provide <br />direction on any other desired changes. The direction will be incorporated into the <br />full draft that will be presented later this year. <br /> <br />Board Comments <br /> <br />Chair Tralle asked if the wind and solar energy sections could be combined. <br /> <br />Ms. Lindahl said City likes the idea of an alternate energy zoning section with <br />subsections for solar and wind if the board agrees. Currently the City has been <br />allowing solar projects. <br /> <br />Mr. Laden asks how solar and wind could be combined in the zones. He feels solar <br />can go just about anywhere but wind needs to have more restrictive requirements. <br /> <br />Ms. Lindahl agrees with Mr. Laden and clarifies wind and solar would be under the <br />same section, subsections would clarify the differences with both. <br /> <br />Chair Tralle comments on solar gardens taking land out of taxable property and asks <br />if the same would be true of wind. <br /> <br />Ms. Lindahl clarifies that this does not refer to a wind farm but rather refers to a wind <br />accessory to a structure. A single facility not exceeding 5,000 kilowatts. Staff is <br />referring to a home or business. <br /> <br />Mr. Root asks what the current standard zoning on solar power arrays are. <br /> <br />Ms. Lindahl said that if asked to prepare a solar ordinance for review there are three <br />different solar patterns that would be considered which are building integrated, <br />building mounted, and ground mounted solar arrays. A review would also consider <br />more technical aspects such as reflection proof covers and the panels ability to move. <br /> <br />Mr. Root points out that a 5-megawatt wind structure would need a mounting pole of <br />120ft high and would have a blade diameter of 140ft. Because of this he would like <br />any wind ordinance proposal to have differing standards for different zones. He <br />would also like any zoning proposal to anticipate common issues with wind power <br />such as shadow flickering and noise. <br /> <br />Ms. Lindahl stated that they did draft a free standing WECS which cannot exceed 50 <br />ft in height as measured from the grade at the base of the tower to the highest possible <br />extension of the blades. She commented that setbacks were also addressed by saying <br />the tower must be able to fall over and not hit the lot line.