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July 13, 2023 PC Minutes <br />Page 2 <br /> <br /> <br />Chair Kleissler opened the Public Hearing at 7:07 PM <br /> <br />Evan Carlson of Enterprise Energy stated that he had previously applied for solar farm development, <br />and that the proposed revisions would reduce develo pment capabilities on the specific property he <br />was applying for. Carlson commented that the existing ordinance requires the time period for an IUP is <br />set from the date of approval, but a gap is created from the approval date and the date that the solar <br />farm begins generating energy. Carlson also commented that a setback of 75 feet from property lines <br />instead of 100 feet would accommodate his proposal. <br /> <br />Meriel McClintock, 7260 165th Street North states that she lives next to the existing solar farm, and <br />expressed concern about trespassing, irregular patterns of maintenance, buzzing noises coming from <br />the panels, and glare coming from the panels. McClintock commented that the City should consider <br />requiring the entire property to be fenced rather than the so lar array itself. McClintock commented <br />that there was an apparent transfer of ownership of the existing solar farm property of which the City <br />needs to be made aware. McClintock commented that the placement of a solar farm on each property <br />based on parcel size needs to be considered. <br /> <br />Matt Stupnick of Cedar Creek Energy stated that he is working with the Lutz family on a proposed <br />project. Stupnick commented that more intensive requirements could be imposed for screening, and <br />that a restriction to 5 acres in size is too small. <br /> <br />John Lutz, 8050 157th Street N, commented that the 5 acre size requirement is not large enough for <br />farmers developing solar farms to earn revenue. <br /> <br />Commissioner Lessard asks about the timing gap that Carlson addressed. Jub a stated that there is <br />some flexibility, and that in the existing solar farm project the IUP time period was set to begin at the <br />time of operation. Juba states that the time period from 1 to 25 years gives the City flexibility to <br />implement the Comprehensive Plan, such as considering proximity to municipal water and sanitary <br />sewer services. <br /> <br />Commissioner Petty asks about the existing fencing requirement. Juba states that the developer is only <br />required to fence the solar array, not the entire parcel. <br /> <br />Commissioner Kelly asks if properties that have solar farms are taxed differently. Juba states that there <br />is a commercial and industrial taxing element applied to solar farms. <br /> <br />Stubnick asks how the 5 acre size limitation will be calculated per parcel. Juba states that the maximum <br />allowed would be 5 acres per lot or parcel, and that property owners could subdivide to operate <br />multiple 5 acre solar farms. <br /> <br />Lutz asks if property owners can only develop one solar farm even if they own multiple properties. Juba <br />states that property owners may own multiple parcels, and may build solar farms on each parcel so <br />long as they meet all requirements.