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Council Meeting Minutes for February 3, 2025 <br />Page 6 of 8 <br /> <br />Petryk made motion, Krull seconded, to approve RESOLUTION 2025-2 APPROVING PLANS <br />AND SPECIFICATIONS AND AUTHORIZING ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS 2025 <br />STREET IMPROVEMENT PROJECT (DUCK PASS, PALMES LONG LAKE ESTATES, <br />AND INGERSOLL AVENUE N AREA). <br /> <br />All Ayes. Motion carried. <br /> <br />Update and Discussion on Solar Farm Ordinance <br /> <br />On September 19, 2024, the City Council and Planning Commission held a joint workshop to <br />determine the future of solar farms within the City Ordinance and directed the Ordinance Review <br />Committee (ORC) to consider amendments to the performance standards for solar farms. After <br />discussions at several meetings, the ORC recommended revisions to the definition of solar farms, <br />zoning districts where solar farms would be allowed, minimum lot size, and language guiding the <br />placement of a solar farm on a property. Staff was requesting Council direct the Planning <br />Commission hold a public hearing on the proposed text amendments. <br /> <br />Associate Planner Max Gort reminded Council that the ordinance applied to solar farms, not <br />accessory solar energy systems that generate electricity for on-site use. He explained the <br />proposed changes included an increase in the minimum lot size from ten acres to 20 acres, <br />increased setbacks from 200 feet to 400 feet, and a requirement for solar farms to be located <br />insofar as possible on the site to minimize impacts. As proposed, solar energy systems would be <br />allowed as an accessory use in all zoning districts and solar farms as an interim use in the Long <br />Term Agricultural, Agricultural, Rural Residential, and Future Urban Service Districts. <br /> <br />Petryk made motion, Strub seconded, to direct staff to hold a public hearing with the Planning <br />Commission to consider the ORC’s recommended text amendments. <br /> <br />All Ayes. Motion carried. <br /> <br />Discussion on Petition for Stop Signs at 125th Street and Northern Pines Subdivision <br /> <br />The City of Hugo received a petition from the Northern Pines Townhome Association that <br />requested the City consider adding a three-way stop at 125th Street North and Fenway Avenue <br />North. The petition referenced increased traffic on the roadway, the lack of a shoulder for <br />pedestrians to walk on, and vehicles traveling at speeds that put pedestrians at risk. The stop <br />sign was requested to slow traffic down and create a safer street for the neighborhood. This <br />petition was discussed among City staff and was also forwarded to MnDOT and Washington <br />County (roadway to be “turned back” to Washington County in the future) for their feedback due <br />to its proximity to Highway 61. <br /> <br />City Engineer Mark Erichson explained that there was currently a single stop sign for traffic <br />southbound on Fenway Avenue at 125th Street. The road was currently posted at 35 miles per <br />hour. The road is relatively narrow, and a trail is identified in the Comprehensive Plan that <br />would go east from Fenway Avenue to Fondant Avenue. He also noted that Fenway Avenue is <br />approximately 360 feet east of TH 61, and the intersection would likely be signalized in the <br />future. Installing a stop sign on 125th at Fenway Avenue would likely cause a backup. A speed <br />study had been conducted and did not show excessive speeding to be an issue.