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2 <br /> <br />2. OVERVIEW OF PROPOSED REVISIONS: <br /> <br />The Ordinance Review Committee focused on aesthetics and the character of the surrounding <br />area related to solar farm development. The ORC determined that adjustments to the <br />performance standards for solar farms would be most effective in addressing the concerns they <br />heard. The following is a summary of the proposed revisions to the ordinance by section. <br /> <br />Sec. 90-278. – Solar energy systems. <br />(d) – Solar farms. <br />(2) – Performance standards for solar farms. <br /> <br />Setbacks <br /> <br />In the current ordinance under subsection (b), solar farms must be 50 feet from all property <br />lines and public road rights-of-way. A change is proposed to increase the minimum setbacks to <br />100 feet from all property lines, 200 feet from all public road rights-of-way, and 200 feet from <br />any principal structure on adjacent properties. <br /> <br />Size of solar farms <br /> <br />A new subsection (c) is proposed to limit the size of solar farms to 5 acres, measured by the <br />exterior edges of the solar array. <br /> <br />Landscaping, vegetative buffer, and screening <br /> <br />In the current ordinance under subsection (d), solar farms must be enclosed by approved <br />perimeter fencing or adequate vegetative buffer for screening, with an exception for screening <br />being provided by the natural landscape. An additional requirement to that subsection is <br />proposed to require the primary form of buffer to be at least 6-foot tall vegetation. It is also <br />proposed that ground areas within the perimeter fencing not occupied by equipment be <br />planted with native pollinator-friendly plantings, and that applications include a vegetation <br />establishment and management plan to be reviewed and approved by staff. <br /> <br />(4) – Conditions of approval. <br /> <br />In the current ordinance, the Planning Commission may recommend and the City Council may <br />impose additional conditions and requirements beyond those outlined in the performance <br />standards and IUP approval criteria. The ordinance section states three examples of what these <br />conditions may include, but are not limited to. A fourth condition proposed in this section is <br />additional setbacks. <br /> <br />3. STAFF RECOMMENDATION: <br /> <br />Staff is of the opinion that the proposed amendments to Section 90-278. – Solar energy systems <br />meet the goals identified by the Planning Commission and City Council to address concerns <br />from residents, and is in line with the vision of the 2040 Comprehensive Plan. <br />