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April 11, 2024 PC Minutes <br />Page 3 <br /> <br />Jimmie Gregoire, 16720 Henna Ave N, stated that he was contacted by a few different people before <br />this meeting after his involvement with the previous solar farm project on 165 th St N, which is adjacent <br />to his property. Gregoire stated that he was concerned about the solar array’s ability to withstand a <br />high wind event such as a tornado, and potential impacts to adjacent property and livestock. Gregoire <br />stated that he feels that the loss of a potential home site wo uld subtract from the value of the <br />neighborhood. <br /> <br />Laura Syring, 15149 Everton Ave N, stated that she lives on the property to the south of the property <br />where the proposed solar farm would be located. Syring stated that she believed there was some <br />discrepancy in information between maps, stating that the land use classification in the 2030 and 2040 <br />Land Use maps of Large Lot Residential means they are not zoned Agricultural. Syring played a <br />voicemail she received from Evan Carlson in 2022 asking to lease the rear acreage of her property to <br />construct a solar farm. Syring listed health and environmental concerns, especially pertaining to <br />livestock, such as carcinogens and electromagnetic fields (EMF). Syring asked that the Planning <br />Commission deny the request. <br /> <br />Levi Shepherd, 15216 Fanning Dr N, stated that he lives in one of the townhomes to the east of the site <br />and that his significant other owns several of the townhomes. Shepherd shared a photo that he <br />describes as the view from his bedroom, looking over the vacant property, and that trees will not be <br />able to adequately screen the solar farm from view. Shepherd stated that his neighbors did not receive <br />notice of the public hearing in the mail. Shepherd stated that the solar panels will cause health issues <br />for surrounding neighbors, and that some solar panels from China have mercury in them. <br /> <br />Arnie Triemert, 15220 Everton Ave N, stated that he was totally against the solar farm, describing it as <br />an eyesore. Triemert stated that they are taxed as residential and not commercial land. Triemert stated <br />he believed the City used to care about residents but that it does not anymore. Triemert stated that <br />the proposed fence will make the solar farm look like a prison. <br /> <br />Mike Happ, 15292 Everton Ave N, stated that he wants the proposal to be done tonight. Happ stated <br />that he wants a written guarantee that their propert y values won’t go down as a result of the solar <br />farm. Happ stated that he believes that the stormwater plan doesn’t make sense. <br /> <br />Ben Krull, 15350 Everton Ave N, stated that he came to figure out what the project was about. Krull <br />stated that he was frustrated that the neighbors weren’t involved earlier. Krull stated that Everton <br />Avenue is a cart path, and that the whole project is wrong. Krull stated that here wasn’t time for his <br />questions to be asked. <br /> <br />Leroy Peltier, 15257 Everton Ave N, stated that he has lived in Hugo for 82 years, and has lived on his <br />current property since 1970. Peltier spoke on the history of how his family farm was sold off over time <br />to develop the adjacent neighborhood. Peltier brings up the issue of sheer factor, and talked about the <br />1975 and 2008 storms that damaged surrounding farms and livestock. Peltier stated that the health <br />issues and EMF aren’t being discussed. Peltier stated that he’s concerned about prope rty value <br />decrease and an effect on the character of the surrounding area. Peltier stated that he was concerned