PC PACKET 04.11.2024 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

Enterprise Energy, LLC. Solar Farm Site Plan and IUP Page 7 Building and Impervious Surface Coverage The AG zoning district allows for up to 35% of the lot area to be covered by impervious surface. The applicant is not proposing to construct any buildings, and is proposing that approximately 3.91 acres of the approximately 12 acre site to be covered by impervious surface, including the solar panels, access driveway, and concrete equipment pad. This coverage equates to roughly 32.6% of the lot to be covered by impervious surface, meeting the ordinance requirement. Parking Sec. 90-235 outlines minimum required parking for specific uses. Solar farms are not a specific use that requires off-street parking. The applicant has stated that the access road will provide enough space to park a maintenance vehicle during routine trips, without any further anticipated vehicle trips per day. Staff is comfortable with the amount of space provided for parking in the access road. Landscaping As previously stated, Sec. 90-278(d)(2)(f) and(g)require that ground areas within the perimeter fencing of a solar farm not occupied by equipment or access paths be planted with deep-rooted, native pollinator plantings and that the application include a vegetation establishment and management plan (VMP)to be reviewed and approved by staff. The landscape plan and VMP satisfy the IUP criteria for the solar farm as well as the requirements for a landscape plan under Sec. 90-36(c). Fencing/Screening As previously stated, Sec. 90-278(d)(2)(e) requires that solar farms be enclosed by perimeter fencing or adequate vegetative buffer for screening, with the primary form of screening being plantings that are at least 6 feet tall at the time of planting. Staff is comfortable with the applicant's proposed landscape plan and the keeping of existing vegetation to provide an adequate form of buffer for screening, with the conditions in the resolution. Signage The proposed solar farm shall include a sign listing the owner/operator of the system along with appropriate contact information. Staff will review the specifications of such sign prior to issuing a sign permit. The proposed solar farm does not include any additional signage for the purpose of attracting attention or business to the site. Storm water Management In general, the construction of the solar farm will not change how the property is drained. The applicant's grading plan utilizes a stormwater pond to capture runoff from the access driveway, laydown area, and equipment pad in the northwest corner of the property. The pond's outlet directs stormwater into the wetlands where the property already drains runoff to the east. The 7