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4 <br /> <br />1. Permits. A building permit shall be obtained before the installation of solar arrays or panels <br />on any property. All solar energy systems shall be installed and components labeled in <br />accordance with the Minnesota State Electric Code Section 690. The applicant will be <br />required to obtain these permits prior to construction. <br />2. Rooftop or Building Integrated Solar Energy Systems. This is not applicable to this <br />application. <br />3. Ground-Mount Solar Energy Systems. <br />a. Ground-mount energy systems must comply with all accessory setback, height and lot <br />coverage restrictions unless otherwise stated herein or a variance is granted and shall <br />not encroach on any City easement unless an easement encroachment agreement <br />approved by the Planning Director or his/her designee after review and approval from <br />the City Engineer or his/her designee has been executed. A certificate of zoning <br />compliance is required for all solar energy systems unless a conditional use permit is <br />required as stated herein. The proposed site plan indicates the facility will meet all <br />minimum setback requirements. The original site plan indicated 59’ of right-of-way <br />preservation along 50th Street N. A revised plan showing the required right-of-way <br />preservation of 60 feet from the centerline has been submitted. All setbacks must be <br />measured from the line of preservation <br />b. The collector surface of a ground-mount system and any foundation, compacted soil, or <br />other component of the solar installation that rests on the ground is considered <br />impervious surface. Vegetated ground under the collector surface can be used to mitigate <br />stormwater runoff. There is no maximum impervious surface requirement in the RR <br />district. <br />4. Interconnection Agreement. Solar energy systems connected directly to the distribution or <br />transmission system must obtain an interconnection agreement with the interconnecting <br />electric utility. The applicant’s narrative notes the applicant has submitted an interconnection <br />application to Xcel Energy and is working through that process. The final agreement will be <br />submitted prior to a building permit. <br />5. Glare. Glare produced from any solar energy system shall be minimized from affecting <br />adjacent or nearby properties. The applicant is proposing to use panels with a non-reflective <br />coating. In addition, landscape screening will be required along the perimeter of the site. <br />6. Decommissioning. A decommissioning plan shall be required to ensure that facilities are <br />properly removed after their useful life. Decommissioning of solar panels must occur in the <br />event they are not in use for 12 consecutive months. The plan shall include provisions for <br />removal of all structures and foundations, restoration of soil and vegetation and a plan <br />ensuring financial resources will be available to fully decommission the site. The applicant <br />has submitted a decommissioning plan. As a condition of approval, the City will require the <br />owner remove all modules and equipment within 90 days after the site has been <br />decommissioned. The City will also require a letter of credit equal to 110% of the cost of <br />decommissioning. The potential salvage value shall not be subtracted from the cost of <br />decommissioning. In this case, the applicant has estimated the cost of decommissioning at <br />$96,521. This will require an LOC in the amount of $106,200.