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7 <br />A clear, brush-free area of 10 feet (3048 mm) shall be required for ground-mounted <br />photovoltaic arrays. <br />The installation and use of gates shall be in compliance with the fire code. If a gate(s) is <br />to be installed, provide more detailed information for review. <br />A Fire Department lock box is required for emergency access to building at an approved <br />location(s) and provide keys for emergency access into the property and any controls <br />necessary for emergency use or shut down. <br />Site address numbers shall be plainly visible from the street fronting the property and <br />shall contrasting color from the background. <br />The applicant responded to these comments with an updated site plan on February 9, 2022. After <br />reviewing the update plan, the Fire Department provided the following comments: <br />“This site will not require a fire department lock box but we will require the gate to be in <br />compliance with the fire department’s Emergency Vehicle Access policy attached, specifically: <br />Section 7 – Gates <br />a) “Gates” for the purposes of the policy includes chains, chain link, and swinging gates. <br />b) Gates. As set forth in Policy 2.02 “Key Boxes, Locks, and Gate Switches”, the City of Lake <br />Elmo requires that any locked access gate be: <br />ii) Be accessible by use of a KNOX key operated paddle lock, which can be locked in <br />sequence to owner supplied locks for emergency access. <br />This paddle lock would be purchased through KNOX as specified by the fire department.” <br />City Attorney Review. The City Attorney reviewed this request and provided the attached <br />comments. Some key issues outlined in the review include: <br />A condition that requires the owner of the property and/or the operator to remove the <br />modules and equipment after a certain amount of time after the project is <br />decommissioned (i.e. 90 days or something like that). In the event that it is not removed <br />by that time, the City should be given permission to enter the property to remove it and <br />recover its costs from the letter of credit. In the event that the letter of credit is <br />insufficient to cover the City’s costs, the City should be able to certify the costs against <br />the property and collect the costs with the property taxes. <br />There should also be a condition that the letter of credit must be in good standing at all <br />times, so in the event that it is not renewed or cancelled, the City may revoke the <br />conditional use permit. <br />Landscaping Review. The City’s landscape architect reviewed this request and provided a <br />memorandum dated November 12, 2022. At this time, the proposal did not meet the minimum <br />landscape and screening requirements, and a revised landscaping plan meeting all requirements <br />was required. <br />On January 18, 2022, the Applicant provided a revised landscaping plan. On January 26, 2022, <br />the City’s Landscape Architect reviewed the updated plans and provided comments that are