2024.07.15 CC Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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Memorandum To: Hugo City Council From: Max Gort, Associate Planner Date: July 12, 2024, for the City Council meeting of July 15, 2024 Re: Unfinished Business – Approve Solar Ordinance Text Amendment 1. PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING UPDATE At its July 11, 2024 meeting the Planning Commission held a public he aring and considered the proposed text amendments that would prohibit solar farms. There were eight people that spoke during the public hearing, with a good balance of those who were in favor of prohibiting solar farms and those who were against prohibiting solar farms. Those w ho spoke in favor of prohibiting solar farms stated concerns with aesthetics, compatibility with the character of the area, proximity to adjacent dwellings, and the development of solar farms by business owners who were not from Hugo. There was one individual who was generally not in favor of solar farms but didn’t want to restrict opportunities for landowners, and su ggested revisions to the ordinance such as increasing the minimum lot size and setbacks. Those who spoke against prohibiting solar farms generally stated th at they wanted to promote renewable energy within the city, wanted to maintain the rights for landowners to use their property, and wanted to allow farmers to develop a solar farm to supplement their income on land that could otherwise be unproductive. In addition to the comments from those in attendance, the Planning Commission received three letters from residents and one letter from an advocacy group, all of which were not in favor of prohibiting solar farms. Following the public hearing, the Planning Commission discussed the proposed text amendments and the comments they received. Generally, the Planning Commission agreed that there was still a place for solar farms within the city, despite negative community feedback. The Planning Commission members discussed whether they would want to live next to a solar farm, and several of them said they would prefer to live next to a solar farm instead of more disruptive uses that are permitted within rural zoning districts. The Planning Commission discussed potential revisions to the ordinance that could better address some of the negative community feedback, and stated that they would like to restart the ordinance review process in a joint workshop with the City Council. The Planning Commission voted unanimously to recommend denial of the proposed text amendments prohibiting solar farms, and t o recommend holding joint workshop with the City Council. 2. BACKGROUND: In 2016, the City Council adopted an ordinance regulating the use of solar energy systems. The ordinance includes rules for accessory solar energy systems, which provide solar energy for on - I.1