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Enterprise Energy, LLC. Solar Farm Site Plan and IUP Page 2 2 3. LEVEL OF CITY DISCRETION IN DECISION-MAKING: The City’s discretion in approving or denying a site plan is limited to whether or not the proposed project complies with the Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Ordinance requirements. If it meets these standards, the City must then approve the site plan. The City’s discretion in approving or denying an Interim Use Permit use permit is lim ited to whether or not the permit meets the standards outlined in the Comprehensive Land Use Regulations. If it meets these standards, the City must approve the interim use permit. 4. CONTEXT: A. Surrounding Land Use and Zoning The property is currently zoned Agricultural (AG) and guided for Large Lot Residential (LL) in the 2040 Land Use Plan. The surrounding properties to the north, west, and south are also zoned Agricultural and guided as Large Lot Residential, consisting of lots ranging from approximately 9-12 acres in size. The properties to the east are zoned Planned Unit Development (PUD), guided as Medium Density Residential (MD) in the 2040 Land Use Plan, and consist of townhomes in the Waters Edge development. This property is outside of the Municipal Urban Service Area (MUSA), but it is on the border with the townhome properties to the east being connected to municipal sewer and water. B. Natural Characteristics of Site The property is approximately 12 acres, and the applicant has indicated that the solar array will be constructed on approximately 5 acres in the center of the property. The property has some gently rolling terrain, with its lowest point in the south-central portion. The property contains approximately 3.6 acres of wetland. 5. ANALYSIS OF A SOLAR FARM INTERIM USE PERMIT: The zoning code outlines a number of general standards for the operation of all solar energy systems, whether it’s a solar farm or accessory solar energy system. These include the requirement for a building permit, evidence of an agreement with the local utility, responsibility of the applicant to secure any solar energy easements, all solar energy components labeled in accordance with City code, all exterior electrical or service lines be buried, and all solar energy systems be in compliance with adopted city and state building codes. In addition to the general standards for all solar energy systems, there are performance standards for solar farms, which are described below: (a) Solar farms shall be located on a minimum lot size of ten acres within the Long Term Agricultural (LA), Agricultural (AG), Rural Residential (RR), and Future Urban Service (FUS) zoning districts. Solar farms may also be located in any other zoning district only in the floodplain, as long as all other conditions are met.