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2 <br />The ORC’s revisions were presented at a Public Hearing at the Planning Commission meeting of <br />July 13, 2023 meeting, and approved by the City Council on July 24, 2023, repealing the <br />moratorium. With the new ordinance in effect, the City received an application for a solar farm <br />on a vacant 12-acre property on Everton Avenue. During the public hearing at the April 11, <br />2024 Planning Commission meeting, several neighbors spoke in opposition to the project, <br />primarily with concerns that the proposed solar farm would not be compatible with the <br />present character of the surrounding area. However, the Planning Commission determined <br />that the proposal met the necessary requirements to approve a solar farm IUP, and <br />unanimously voted to recommend approval to the City Council. At its May 6, 2024 meeting, the <br />City Council heard the request for the IUP, and the residents who spoke at the Planning <br />Commission meeting stated that the proposal was not compatible with the character of the <br />area. Subsequently, the City Council found that the proposed solar farm did not meet the <br />character of the area requirement, and approved a resolution with findings of fact for denial of <br />the solar farm IUP. <br /> <br />At its May 20, 2024 meeting, the City Council enacted another moratorium on solar farm <br />applications, directing staff to study the ordinance again. The City Council had a discussion at <br />its June 17, 2024 meeting to determine the direction needed for the ordinance. Staff <br />recommended that the City Council hold another joint workshop with the Planning <br />Commission. Several councilmembers stated that they would like to gather public feedback on <br />the prohibition of solar farms prior to restarting the ordinance review process, stating that the <br />community was still reacting negatively after significant revisions had been made. The Council <br />stated that they wanted members of the public to ask themselves, even if they are comfortable <br />with allowing solar farms within the city, whether they would want to live next to one. The City <br />Council directed staff to draft a text amendment that would prohibit solar farms within the <br />city. <br /> <br />With the Council’s direction, staff has drafted text amendments to Sec. 90-1 Definitions and <br />Sec. 90-278(d) Solar Energy Systems that would prohibit solar farms within the city. <br /> <br /> <br />2. STAFF RECOMMENDATION: <br /> <br />Staff recommends the Planning Commission hold the public hearing and take all comments. <br /> <br />Staff recommends that the Planning Commission have a discussion based on the public <br />comments received, and make an appropriate recommendation to the City Council. <br /> <br />Attachments: <br />1. Sec. 90-278. – Solar Energy Systems <br />2. Draft text amendments to the definition for solar farms, and to item “d” of Sec. 90-278 <br />prohibiting solar farms <br />3. Article from The Citizen published June 27, 2024 <br />4. Comments received from the public