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FastSun 4, LLC. Solar Farm IUP <br />Page 3 <br />2. DESCRIPTION OF REQUEST: <br />The applicant is requesting approval of an interim use permit for a solar farm located north of 165a' <br />Street North and west of Henna Avenue North. <br />3. BACKGROUND: <br />On January 4, 2016 the City Council adopted an ordinance regulating the use of solar energy <br />systems. This ordinance was created through the City's Ordinance Review Committee and went <br />through the process of approval for an ordinance, including publication/notice, a public hearing at <br />the Planning Commission, and City Council approval. <br />The vacant property is 30 acres and is located within the Future Urban Service zoning district. The <br />applicant has stated that they will be leasing the western 19.8 acres of the property. The applicant <br />is proposing to install a solar farm consisting of approximately 5 acres of used land in the northwest <br />corner for the use of a solar energy system and installation of solar panels. This request requires <br />approval of an interim use permit (IUP). <br />The applicant has indicated that this solar farm will produce approximately one (1) megawatt <br />(MW) of power. Although solar capacity is dependent on average sunshine, average household <br />electricity consumption, and temperature and wind; one megawatt of solar capacity can power <br />approximately 164 homes on average. The applicant has stated that Xcel Energy will be <br />purchasing the power generated by the panels to assist them in meeting the State's mandate for use <br />of renewable energy. The applicant has also indicated that Xcel customers may be able to <br />subscribe to a share of the electrical output from the project, as well. Because Xcel is the only <br />utility currently offering incentives for solar energy systems, the project will only be within Xcel's <br />territory. The line between Xcel and Conexus territory intersects this property, which is why the <br />applicant is renting only the western 19.8 acres of the 30 acre property. <br />4. LEVEL OF CITY DISCRETION IN DECISION-MAKING: <br />The City's discretion in approving or denying an Interim Use Permit use permit is limited to <br />whether or not the permit meets the standards outlined in the Comprehensive Land Use <br />Regulations. If it meets these standards, the City must approve the interim use permit. <br />5. CONTEXT: <br />A. Surrounding Land Use and Zoning <br />The property is currently zoned Future Urban Service (FUS) and guided for Low Density <br />Residential (LD) in the 2030 Land Use Plan. Currently, the surrounding properties are generally <br />large acreages occupied by single family homes with agricultural uses occurring on the remaining <br />land. This property is within the Municipal Sewer Service Area (MUSA), however is right on the <br />border with the properties to the south guided as Agricultural (outside of the service area) and <br />properties to the north guided as Low Density Residential (inside of the service area). <br />3 <br />