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A WSB 21 &Assoc Infrastructure ■ Engineering r Planning ■ Construction 701 Xenia Avenue South Suite 300 Minneapolis, MN 55416 Tel: 763-541-4600 Fax: 763-541-1700 CITY OF SAINT ANTHONY VILLAGE MEMORANDUM To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council Mark Casey, City Manager From: Kelsey Johnson, AICP, City Planner Meeting Date: October 2, 2013 WSB Project No. 02170-000 Request: An Amendment to the Saint Anthony Village City Code to Add Chapter §152.187 Relating to Solar Energy Systems OVERVIEW It is beneficial to review sections of the City Code on a regular basis in order to identify potential issues before they are found through a request or land use application. In addition, it ensures that the City Code is reflective of what is desired for the community. Following a cursory review of the City's Zoning Ordinance, staff created a list of code provisions to review and potentially update, to be reviewed by the Planning Commission. At the regular meeting of the Planning Commission on January 28, 2013, the Planning Commission reviewed this list and created a "Work Plan". The Work Plan is a schedule of objectives established by the Planning Commission, which provides an efficient method of prioritizing projects and achieving the most important goals of the Planning Commission and the community. Among potential projects in 2013, the Planning Commission prioritized a list of projects they would like to work on. The City Council, at their regular meeting on April 12, 2013,. approved the Work Plan as presented by the Planning Commission. Item #6 on the Planning Commission Work Plan is to "review green/energy reuse ordinance(s)". With increased interest in renewable energy, more specifically for the installation of solar energy systems, staff has prepared a draft Ordinance relating to Solar Energy Systems. The purpose of the amendment is to incorporate more detailed standards governing the installation of solar energy systems. The ordinance is expected to provide clarity and predictability while ensuring that solar energy systems may be installed in a manner that allows for effective energy production. Further, the standards are intended to ensure that these systems are installed in a manner that would not unduly affect community character. The proposed text amendment would: • Provide clarity for City staff as well as solar installers and property owners; • Set standards for building -mounted systems; • Clarify that solar access easements may be purchased from nearby property owners, consistent with state statute. The proposed text amendment provides for an administrative review process. For new solar energy systems that do not or cannot comply with the new standards, the proposed ordinance includes a conditional use permit (CUP) process that would authorize the City to grant exceptions to the standards. This process would offer flexibility — more flexibility than a variance process -a while also offering nearby property owners an opportunity to review and comment on proposals that may affect their property. In this instance the City could place reasonable conditions on applications in order to mitigate any adverse impacts associated with installations that do not meet the standards of the ordinance. Page 1