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Minutes for the Planning Commission Meeting of Thursday, July 11, 2024 <br /> Chair Kleissler called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm. <br /> PRESENT: Andress, Arcand, Derr, Granger, Kelly, Kleissler, Lessard, Petty <br /> ABSENT: None <br /> STAFF: Rachel Juba, Community Development Director <br /> Max Gort, Associate Planner <br /> Pledge of Allegiance. <br /> Approval of Minutes for the Planning Commission Meeting of May 9, 2024 <br /> Commissioner Derr made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Andress, to approve the minutes for <br /> the Planning Commission meeting of April 11, 2024. <br /> AYE: Andress, Derr, Kelly, Kleissler, Petty <br /> NAY: None. <br /> ABSTAIN: Granger, Lessard <br /> Motion carried. <br /> Public Hearing: Ordinance Amendment—Solar Farms <br /> Associate Planner Gort presented background on the history of the city ordinance relating to solar <br /> farms, and the current directive from the City Council to proposed an ordinance amendment that <br /> would prohibit their construction within the city. The solar energy systems ordinance was adopted in <br /> 2016, which outlines rules and regulations for accessory solar, which provides solar energy for <br /> individuals to use on their own property, and solar farms, which distribute solar energy to off-site users <br /> on a larger scale. There was one solar farm project approved in 2018 on 165t" Street that drew <br /> significant negative feedback from the community, primarily concerned with aesthetics and character <br /> of the area. Due to rising interest in solar farm development, the City Council and Planning Commission <br /> decided to review the ordinance relating to solar farms in 2023. The Ordinance Review Committee <br /> (ORC) convened and recommended several revisions to the performance standards, including <br /> increased setbacks, a maximum size of the solar array, and landscaping requirements. The City Council <br /> adopted these revisions in 2023, and a solar farm was proposed on Everton Avenue with the new <br /> development standards in place. The Everton Avenue solar farm proposal was heard by the Planning <br /> Commission at its April 11, 2024 meeting with a public hearing, and drew significant negative feedback <br /> from the community— largely the same concerns that were heard in 2018. The Planning Commission <br /> recommended approval of the proposal, but the City Council found that the solar farm would not meet <br /> the character of the area, and denied the request on May 6, 2024. The City Council discussed the <br /> direction for the ordinance, and wanted to get feedback from the community about prohibiting the <br />