10-04-23-PC Agenda - Laserfiche WebLink

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c. All solar energy systems using a reflector to enhance solar production shall minimize glare from the reflector affecting adjacent or nearby properties. 4. Coverage. Solar energy systems are subject to lot coverage and impervious surface requirements of the underlying zoning district. a. Roof -mounted solar energy systems, excluding building integrated systems, shall not cover more than 80 percent of the south -facing or flat roof upon which the panels are mounted. b. The surface area of ground -or pole -mounted systems shall be factored as part of the maximum lot coverage by structure and shall not exceed the regulations of the underlying zoning district. c. The surface area of ground- or pole- mounted systems shall be treated as impervious coverage as regulated for each zoning district. Allowed impervious coverage may be increased by up to ten percent above maximum lot coverage for the zoning district provided 100 percent of the excess is accounted for by an approved ground- or pole - mounted solar energy system when the soil under the panel array(s) is vegetation or not compacted or a pollinator and native groundcover mix. d. Ground- or pole -mounted systems shall be counted as an accessory structure. 5. Plan Approvals. All solar energy systems shall require the issuance of a building permit. a. Applications that meet the requirements of this policy shall be granted administrative approval by the Zoning Administrator. Plan approval by the Zoning Department does not indicate compliance with Building Code or Electric Code. b. A building permit application for a solar energy system shall be accompanied by scaled horizontal and vertical elevation drawings. The drawings must show the location of the system on the building, or on the property for a ground- or pole -mounted system, including the property lines. 1. For all roof -mounted systems other than a flat roof the elevation drawings shall show the highest finished slope of the solar collector and the slope of the finished roof surface on which it is mounted. 2. For flat -roof applications a drawing shall be submitted showing the distance to the roof edge and any parapets on the building and shall identify the height of the building on the street frontage side, the shortest distance of the system from the street frontage edge of the building, and the highest finished height of the solar collector above the finished surface of the roof. c. All solar energy systems shall meet approval of local building code officials, consistent with the State of Minnesota Building Code, and solar thermal systems shall comply with HVAC-related requirements of the Energy Code. d. All solar energy systems shall comply with the Minnesota State Electric Code. e. If any solar energy system remains nonfunctional or inoperative for a continuous period of twelve (12) months, the system must be deemed to be abandoned and shall constitute a public nuisance. The owner must remove the abandoned system at their expense after any