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July 11, 2024 PC Minutes Page 3 Daniel Baack, 6662 Lacasse Dr in Lino Lakes, asked about state directives for providing renewable energy, and stated that he wants the city to continue permitting solar farms as a way to generate renewable energy and for farmers to be able to supplement their income. Ben Krull, 15350 Everton Ave N, stated that he believes Hugo residents do not want solar farms and that the only people proposing them are not Hugo residents. Nathan Dull, Minnesota Land and Liberty Coalition, stated that he believes prohibiting solar farms is too extreme, and mentioned uses that are more disruptive to neighbors than solar farms. Chair Kleissler asked the Planning Commission and staff to address some public comments. Commissioner Petty asked if the existing solar farm project on 165 th Street had screening requirements, Juba said that they had a landscape plan that exceeded the screening requirements at the time, and that the plan would meet the current ordinance standards with the 2023 revisions. Commissioner Granger asked if there are any other cities in Minnesota that prohibit solar farms, Juba says yes. Daniel Baack returned to the podium and asked if the question could be brought to a referendum. Juba said that the city only puts items that are required to be decided via referendum on the ballot, and that ordinance discussions are not one of those topics. Baack stated that the sample size present at the public hearing may not be entirely representative and asked if the Planning Commission would consider wider reaching methods of soliciting community feedback, Chair Kleissler responded that the public hearing process is intended to ser ve that purpose. Chair Kleissler closed the Public Hearing at 8:03 PM. Commissioner Petty commented that nobody can truly speak for all residents of Hugo, including the Planning Commission, that there are much more disruptive uses with greater impacts t o neighbors allowed on agricultural property, and that she would not mind living next to a solar farm. Petty stated that there is room for a discussion for revising the ordinance to address concerns before prohibiting solar farms. Commissioner Andress stated that he has a problem with prohibiting solar farms when the city has made efforts for natural resource conservation, and stated he has family members in situations where the ability to construct a solar farm could be financially beneficial. Commissioner Lessard said that the greater than 40-acre minimum lot size proposed during the public hearing, with the 5-acre solar array placed in the middle, would be too large, stating that it could prevent the property from being subdivided. Commissioner Granger said that the minimum lot size doesn’t matter so much as how close the solar farm could potentially be located to adjacent property.