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ARDEN HILLS PLANNING COMMISSION – March 8, 2023 8 District within the city code. Prior to this, there were no zoning districts designated for “parks or open space areas” that corresponded to two of the City’s future land use designations in the 2030 (and now 2040) Comprehensive Plan. • Park and Open Space defined as “areas designated as public parks” o Consists of 529 acres of land of City owned public parks, Ramsey County parks, and other open spaces for trails or stormwater easement ponds owned by the City, Ramsey County, the State of Minnesota, and private property owners/homeowner’s associations. • Park Preserve defined as “areas designated as natural or scenic areas that are to be preserved for public use or open space” o Consists of 1,449 acres all located on the Arden Hills Army Training Site Community Development Director Jagoe explained by creating the Parks and Open Space Zoning District and Conservation Zoning District, the City was working towards compliance with Minnesota State law, which mandates that local zoning codes are consistent with adopted comprehensive plans. Specific to this application, the Conservation District is guided by the Park Preserve future land use classification in the Comprehensive Plan. The CD District only applies to the Arden Hills Army Training Site (AHATS). In 2014, the City rezoned 2/3’s of the AHATS property to the Conservation District and then in 2016 the remaining acreage was rezoned. The City did not rezone the entire AHATS property originally in 2014 because Ramsey County was working with the Federal Government to purchase some of the area to be incorporated into their park system. Community Development Director Jagoe discussed the AHATS background, commented further on the Zoning Code Text Amendments, and provided the Findings of Fact for review: 1. Alatus, LLC, The Applicant, is proposing amendments to the language of Chapter 13 – Zoning Code of the City Code. 2. Currently, Section 1305.04 does not include a definition for Solar Energy System. 3. The Applicant is proposing the City amend the zoning code to add a definition for Solar Energy System to Section 1305.04 of the Zoning Code. 4. Under the City’s Zoning Code Section 1320.05, a Solar Energy System is considered a prohibited land use in the Conservation District. 5. The Applicant is proposing an amendment to alter the Land Use Chart in Section 1320.05 of the Zoning Code to allow a Solar Energy System as a Conditional Use in the Conservation District. 6. The City is proposing to add Solar Energy System design standards to Section 1320.15 – Special Requirements for the Conservation District. 7. Amendments to the Zoning Code regulations require a public hearing prior to action by the City Council. 8. If the zoning amendments were approved, an Applicant would be required to submit a Conditional Use Permit land use application for the permitting of a Solar Energy System within the Conservation District. Community Development Director Jagoe reviewed the options for Planning Case 23-004 for a Zoning Code Amendment to Chapter 13 available to the Planning Commission on this matter: