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Xcel Energy <br />Page 2 <br /> <br />2. DESCRIPTION OF REQUEST: <br /> <br />The applicant, Xcel Energy, is requesting approval of a site plan to construct a two -story <br />approximately 32,000 square foot building as well as an outdoor training facility. The outdoor <br />training facility will be an expansion of the existing facility on site, which is allowed by a <br />conditional use permit. The applicant is requesting an amendment to their conditional use permit <br />(CUP) to allow for the expanded facility. A variance is being requested to allow for the height of <br />structures (poles and lattice tower) within the training facility, which exceed the maximum 50 <br />feet allowed by ordinance. Since the applicant is proposing to impact a wetland on site located <br />within a drainage and utility easement, they are requesting an easement vacation. <br /> <br />3. CONTEXT: <br /> <br />A. Surrounding Land Use and Zoning <br /> <br />The surrounding properties to the north, west, and south are zoned Business Park (BP) and Large <br />Lot Single-Family Residential (R-1), although the singular property zoned R-1 is occupied by <br />Clearwater Creek Preserve, a passive park, rather than residential use. The properties to the east <br />are zoned General Industrial (I-3) and are occupied by industrial uses. The 2040 Comprehensive <br />Plan guides the properties to the north, west, and south for Business Park (BP) and Public/Quasi- <br />Public (PQ) use, and the properties to the east are guided for Industrial (IND) use. <br /> <br />B. Existing Site Characteristics <br /> <br />The property is roughly 28 acres in size. The site has some sloping terrain, with upland areas and <br />a slope downward toward the west. The southern half of the site, approximately 12.5 acres, is <br />occupied by two existing buildings and outdoor training area. There are wetlands on the portion <br />of property where the new construction is to take place. <br /> <br />4. BACKGROUND: <br /> <br />There is a training facility owned and operated by Xcel Energy on property within the Bald <br />Eagle Industrial Park. The original site plan and CUP were reviewed and approved by the <br />Planning Commission and City Council in 2012, amended in 2017 to allow for a 12,000 square <br />foot building addition, and again in 2021 to construct additional training facilities. A variance <br />was approved by the Planning Commission and City Council to allow for the construction of <br />training transmission poles which were higher than the 50-foot maximum height allowed by <br />ordinance. <br /> <br />The applicant is proposing to construct multiple new training facilities at the property they have <br />named Hugo Training Center (HTC). The outdoor facilities are an extension of outdoor training <br />transmission lines as well as a new training substation. The transmission lines will feature 4 <br />different lines, ranging in height from 43 feet to 105 feet. The training substation will simulate <br />real life substations at 5 different voltages, and will be built on an approximately 1.65 -acre <br />gravel pad with a galvanized steel perimeter fence. The new transmission lines and the substation <br />will both be non-energized, minimizing hazards to both employees and surrounding properties. <br />The applicant estimates that the project will be completed by the end of 2023.