2023.04.03 Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

MINUTES City Council and Planning Commission Solar Farm Ordinance Joint Workshop Hugo City Hall Thursday, March 23, 2023 6:00 p.m. COUNCIL PRESENT: Klein, Miron, Petryk, Strub, Weidt COUNCIL ABSENT: None PLANNING COMMISSION PRESENT: Andress, Arcand, Derr, Granger, Kelly, Kleissler, Petty PLANNING COMMISSION ABSENT: Lessard STAFF PRESENT: City Administrator Bryan Bear, Community Development Director Rachel Juba, Associate Planner Max Gort Mayor Weidt called the workshop to order at 6:00 PM. Staff presented background on the existing ordinance relating to and regulating solar energy systems, an existing solar farm project in the city, and the public response to said project. Due to the rising interest for solar farm development in the community, the City Council and Planning Commission both identified a review of the City’s ordinance as it relates to solar farms as a goal for 2023. The City Council approved a six-month moratorium on solar farm development at its February 6th, 2023 meeting, and subsequently directed staff to call a joint workshop with the City Council and Planning Commission. Although the City’s ordinance refers to both accessory solar energy systems and solar farms, this workshop was to focus exclusively on the language relating to solar farms. The existing solar farm in the City, which received development approval in 2018, exceeded the ordinance standards in a number of ways to mitigate visual impact such as increased setbacks, plantings of tall evergreen trees, and the use of a fixed tilt system that does not move. The Planning Commission and City Council discussed the City’s role relating to land use, whether solar farms remain a compatible land use in rural zoning districts, and if there are items in the ordinance that can be revised to mitigate the visual impact. The Councilmembers and Planning Commissioners discussed a wide spectrum of items relating to three main options of outcome: leave the ordinance as-is, make changes to the ordinance, or prohibit solar farms within the City. The consensus was to review and possibly make changes to the ordinance to mitigate the visual impact. After reviewing public feedback, the workshop determined that visual aesthetics are the primary concern that neighbors are having relating to solar farms. A few ideas brought forward for changes to the ordinance included limitations on project size and density, more expanded landscaping and buffering requirements, and more conditions of approval. The workshop determined that a meeting with the Ordinance Review Committee to determine appropriate changes to the ordinance was needed. An update will be presented to the City Council at its April 3rd, 2023 meeting before an Ordinance Review Committee meeting date is set. The workshop adjourned at 7:30 PM. Respectfully Submitted, Max Gort Associate Planner