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PC Agenda Item — 3B <br />'It <br />,fi` DEN HILLS <br />MEMORANDUM <br />DATE: October 4, 2023 <br />TO: Planning Commission Chair and Commissioners <br />FROM: Elena Fransen, Senior Planner <br />SUBJECT: Planning Case # 23-018 — Public Hearing Required <br />Applicant: Donald Wahlberg <br />Request: Ground -Mounted Solar Energy Systems in R-1, R-2, and R-3 <br />Residential Districts Zoning Code Amendment <br />Requested Action <br />Donald Wahlberg, "Applicant," is proposing an amendment to the language of Chapter 13 — <br />Zoning Code of the Arden Hills City Code to allow for the accessory use of ground -mounted solar <br />energy systems within the R-1, R-2, and R-3 residential districts in City Code Sections 1320.05 — <br />Land Use Chart and 1325.02 — Accessory Uses. <br />Solar Energy Systems Planning Case Background <br />In February, Alatus LLC proposed an amendment to allow for the conditional use of solar energy <br />systems within the Conservation District. Alatus's proposal established a definition for Solar <br />Energy Systems and added Solar Energy Systems as a Land Use Category in the Land Use Chart <br />for the Conservation District as well as outlined special provisions for Solar Energy Systems in <br />the Conservation District. The request from Alatus was to establish a pathway for solar energy <br />systems to be allowed as a principal use through the Conditional Use Permit Process. The Zoning <br />Code Amendment was reviewed by the Planning Commission on March 8, 2023 and approved by <br />the City Council on April 10, 2023. While the Solar Energy Systems definitions are applicable to <br />the City as a whole, the special provisions and CUP process for Solar Energy Systems were <br />specifically established for the Conservation District. <br />Solar Energy Systems in Residential Districts <br />In August, All Energy Solar contacted the City on behalf of the Applicant regarding provisions for <br />ground -mounted solar energy systems in residential zoning districts. Staff conveyed that, at <br />present, the City Code is absent of language permitting ground -mounted solar energy systems in <br />City of Arden Hills <br />Planning Commission Meeting for October 4, 2023 <br />P:\Planning\Planning Cases\2023\PC 23-018, Wahlberg Solar Energy System — CA <br />Page 1 of 5 <br />