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FastSun 4, LLC. Solar Farm IUP <br />Page 3 <br />(a) Solar farms shall be located on a minimum lot size of ten acres within the Long Term <br />Agricultural (LA), Agricultural (AG), Rural Residential (RR), and Future Urban Service (FUS) <br />zoning districts. Solar farms may also be located in any other zoning district only in the <br />floodplain, as long as all other conditions are met. <br />The applicant is proposing to lease 19.8 acres of a 30 acre parcel located in the Future Urban <br />Service zoning district. <br />(b) Solar farms shall be 50 feet from all property lines and public road rights-of-way. <br />The applicant has proposed a fence surrounding the solar farm to be located on the 50 foot setback <br />line from the north and west property line. The fence is approximately 650 feet from the east <br />property line and 350 feet from the right-of-way on 165th Street to the south. The actual solar <br />panels would be setback approximately 15 feet from the fenced area. <br />(c) Ground mounted solar energy systems shall not exceed 15 feet in height at any point when <br />oriented at maximum tilt. <br />The applicant has indicated that the solar energy system will be approximately 12 feet tall. The <br />applicant has stated that the solar energy panels will be one of two systems: A single -axis tracker, <br />that tilts up and down to follow the sun during the year, but not during the day or a fixed tilt system <br />that faces south and does not move. The panels will be mounted on a steel and aluminum racking <br />structure and installed with pilings that are driven approximately 6-8 feet in the ground. The <br />applicant has indicated that the panels will visually look to be at the same height, therefore, may <br />be driven into the ground at different depths. The TEP has also recommended that the system <br />should be as close to the City's 15 foot maximum height allowance as possible to allow for more <br />natural conditions (sunlight, rain, wind) for vegetative growth within the wetland areas. Because <br />of this condition, the City would expect the height of the system to be approximately 15 feet from <br />the grade of the ground. <br />(d) Solar farms shall be enclosed by approved perimeter fencing or adequate vegetative buffer for <br />screening. Exception may be granted if the natural landscape provides screening from all public <br />right of ways and neighboring properties. <br />The applicant has indicated that they will be installing a 6 -foot galvanized chain link perimeter <br />fence for safety and security. This type of fence will not provide any screening, therefore, the <br />applicant has submitted a landscape plan. <br />The intent of the landscaping portion of the solar energy system section of the code is to provide <br />a buffer between surrounding properties and a solar farm. The applicant has shown the installation <br />of 45 shrubs along the west side and 15 shrubs along the south side of the solar farm. The applicant <br />has stated that there are existing trees that screen the solar farm to the north and the existing <br />vegetation and large setback from the east property line meet the intent of the ordinance. City staff <br />agrees that the north and east portion of the property lines have an adequate buffer with the existing <br />landscape and setback. The applicant has proposed to install Cardinal Dogwood, which is a <br />3 <br />