06-04-2018 Council Work Session Packet

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D. ADDITIONAL STANDARDS: In addition to the standards required above, the following standards shall apply to all Solar Energy Systems. 1. Compliance with Building Code. All SES’s shall require a building permit, shall be subject to the approval of the County Building Official, and shall be consistent with the State of Minnesota Building Code. 2. Compliance with State Electric Code. All photovoltaic systems shall comply with the Minnesota State Electric Code. 3. Compliance with State Plumbing Code. Solar thermal systems shall comply with applicable Minnesota State Plumbing Code requirements. 4. Compliance with MN Energy Code. All SES’s shall comply with HVAC-related requirements of the Energy Code. 5. Utility Notification. No grid-intertied photovoltaic system shall be installed until the owner has submitted notification to the utility company of the customer’s intent to install an interconnected customer-owned generator. Off-grid systems are exempt from this requirement. 6. Security and equipment buildings. Security and equipment buildings on the site of solar farms shall be permitted uses accessory to the solar farm. 7. Controlled Access. The owner or operator shall contain all unenclosed electrical conductors located above ground within structures that control access . E. SOLAR SITE PLAN REQIREMENTS 1. A Solar Site Plan application shall be filed for all Ground Mount Solar Energy Systems sited on parcels 20 acres or less in size, contiguous or aggregate. The site area footprint size shall be computed by a determination of the Zoning Administrator. 2. Solar Site Plans shall require approval by the Zoning Administrator. Such approval shall be issued following an Administrative determination that the design requirements of this Ordinance have been met. F. CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT (CUP) REQUIREMENTS 1. A Conditional Use Permit (CUP) shall be required for a Community Solar Energy System or a Solar Farm which is situated, (or which is staged to be eventually situated) on a contiguous or aggregate site area footprint larger than 20 acres in size, whether commonly owned/controlled or otherwise. Solar Farms and CSES’s located on a site area 20 acres or less (contiguous or aggregate) in size shall be permitted uses. The site area footprint size shall be computed by a determination of the Zoning Administrator. 2. A CSES or Solar Farm which has the capacity to generate 50 megawatts or more shall fall under the jurisdiction of the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission and shall not be subject to County review. 3. Landscaping: Buffer Screening from routine view of the public right-of-way and immediately adjacent residences shall be required in an attempt to minimize the visual impact of above grade site improvements and any extensive or imposing perimeter security fencing that is proposed. Low lying screening, shrubbery, or other native vegetation shall be required around site perimeters or perimeter security fencing. 4. Corridor Preservation: Natural wildlife, wetland, woodland or other lineal corridors shall remain open to travel by native fauna, reptilia and avialae. Perimeter fencing and security measures must accommodate unimpeded wildlife migration through large solar array development sites and areas. Plan approval may require corridor replacement, relocation, removal, and/or protection as determined by the Zoning Administrator.