Laserfiche WebLink
feet. The proposed solar farm will also include the installation of inverters and switch <br />gear located on 7 foot by 12 foot concrete pads and the installation of up to three new <br />utility poles. Due to the large size of the solar farm and the amount of equipment that <br />will be installed on the Property, the solar farm will not be compatible with the existing <br />the neighborhood which consists of single-family homes, farms, and a cemetery. The <br />Applicant has proposed screening for the solar farm but due to the topography of the <br />surrounding area and the height of the equipment, despite the screening, the equipment <br />on the Property will still be largely visible from the public right-of-way and the <br />surrounding properties. <br />4) Another required finding is that the use will be designed, constructed, operated, and <br />maintained so at to be compatible in appearance with the existing or intended character of <br />the general vicinity and will not change the essential character of the area. As stated <br />above, the surrounding properties are single family homes, farms, and a cemetery. Given <br />that a large amount of equipment must be installed on the Property (2,250 PV panels, <br />inverters, switch gear, and utility poles) and the large size of the equipment (the PV <br />panels are 9-14 feet in height) the solar farm will not be compatible with the surrounding <br />single family homes, farm land, and the cemetery that do not have large amounts of <br />equipment installed on them and consist generally of open space. <br />5) An additional required finding that is not met by the Application is that the proposed use <br />will not result in the destruction, loss, or damage of a natural or scenic feature of major <br />importance. The Property and the surrounding area consist of scenic farm land which is <br />of a major importance in the City. By installing the solar facilities on the Property, a <br />large portion of this scenic farm land will be lost. <br />DECISION <br />NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, and based upon the <br />information received and the above findings, that the City Council of the City of Lake Elmo <br />hereby denies the request by CEF Lake Elmo Community Solar, LLC for a Conditional Use <br />Permit for the construction and operation of a solar farm on the property located at 10755 50a' <br />Street North. <br />Passed and duly adopted this 5a' day of April, 2022 by the City Council of the City of Lake <br />Elmo, Minnesota. <br />LA515-1-788781.v1 <br />