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Item No: 3 <br />Meeting Date: August 5, 2013 <br />Type of Business: Worksession <br />Administrator Review: ________ <br /> <br />City of Mounds View Staff Report <br />To: Honorable Mayor and City Council <br />From: Heidi Heller, Planning Associate <br />Item Title/Subject: Renewable Energy Code Amendment <br /> <br /> <br />The Planning Commission has reviewed the Zoning Code in regards to renewable energy system <br />installations, such as solar energy, wind generators or geothermal systems. The Commission <br />recommends that the City update the City Code to help promote renewable energy systems and <br />not hinder or make it difficult for a property owner to install a system since the existing Code <br />language for solar and wind turbines is very outdated. <br /> <br />There are good examples of adopted ordinances from other cities for Mounds View to review, <br />such as Maplewood, Mahtomedi and St. Paul, along with the Minnesota Solar Challenge <br />assistance that the City received. The other part of how local governments can be a better <br />partner to encourage renewable energy systems is the permit process and fees. City Staff will <br />develop new policies, applications and fees specifically for these systems when the fee schedule <br />is updated for 2014. <br /> <br />The three types of renewable energy systems that Mounds View should consider adopting new <br />regulations for are solar energy, wind generators and geo-thermal systems. Solar energy and <br />wind systems will need the most discussion since their components are all outside of the structure <br />and above ground. Geo-thermal systems are mostly underground except for a heat pump and <br />don’t require much language for the City Code. The Planning Commission passed Resolution <br />986-13 on July 24, 2013 for a new renewable energy systems chapter in the zoning code. <br /> <br />Recommendation <br />Discuss the proposed City Code amendments for renewable energy systems. Staff recommends <br />removing all of the existing language and adding a new chapter to the zoning code for the three <br />different types of renewable energy systems. <br /> <br /> <br />Sincerely, <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Heidi Heller <br />Planning Associate <br /> <br /> <br />Attachments: <br />1. Resolution 986-13, Proposed Renewable Energy Systems Code Amendment <br /> <br /> <br />