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Model Sustainable Development Ordinances 9 Solar Energy Standards 3. Solar Hot Water Systems - Solar collectors need to be mounted at a pitch between 40 and 60 degrees. B. Standards for an Administrative Variance - A variance shall be granted by the zoning official if the applicant demonstrates that the following safety, performance and aesthetic conditions are met: 1. Aesthetic Conditions - The solar energy system must be designed to blend into the architecture of the building or be screened from routine view from public right-of-ways other than alleys to the maximum extent possible while still allowing the system to be mounted for efficient performance. 2. Safety Conditions - All applicable health and safety standards are met. 3. Non-Tracking Ground-Mounted Systems - Pole-mounted or ground-mounted active solar energy systems must be set back from the property line by one foot. VI. Restrictions on Solar Energy Systems Limited - No homeowners’ agreement, covenant, common interest community, or other contract between multiple property owners within a subdivision of Model Community shall restrict or limit solar energy systems to a greater extent than Model Community’ solar energy standards. VII. Solar Access - Model Community encourages solar access to be protected in all new subdivisions and allows for existing solar to be protected consistent with Minnesota Statutes. A. Model Community has elected to allow solar easements to be filed, consistent with Minnesota Stat. Chapter 500 Section 30. Any building owner can purchase an easement across neighboring properties to protect access to sunlight. The easement is purchased from or granted by owners of neighboring properties and can apply to buildings, trees, or other structures that would diminish solar access. B. Model Community may require new subdivisions to identify and create solar easements when solar energy systems are implemented as a condition of a PUD, subdivision, conditional use, or other permit, as specified in Section 8 of this ordinance. VIII. Renewable Energy Condition for Certain Permits A. Condition for Rezoning or Conditional Use Permit - Model Community may, in an area where the Solar Easements Minnesota allows the purchase and holding of easements protecting access to solar and wind energy. The easement must specify the following information: Required Contents - Any deed, will, or other instrument that creates a solar or wind easement shall include, but the contents are not limited to: (a) A description of the real property subject to the easement and a description of the real property benefiting from the solar or wind easement; and (b) For solar easements, a description of the vertical and horizontal angles, expressed in degrees and measured from the site of the so- lar energy system, at which the solar easement extends over the real property subject to the easement, or any other description which de- fines the three dimensional space, or the place and times of day in which an obstruction to direct sunlight is prohibited or limited; (c) A description of the vertical and horizontal angles, expressed in degrees, and distances from the site of the wind power system in which an obstruction to the winds is prohib- ited or limited; (d) Any terms or conditions under which the easement is granted or may be terminated; (e) Any provisions for compensation of the owner of the real property benefiting from the easement in the event of interference with the enjoyment of the easement, or compensation of the owner of the real property subject to the easement for maintaining the easement; (f) Any other provisions necessary or desirable to execute the instrument. Source: Minnesota Stat. 500.30 Subd. 3.