Laserfiche WebLink
<br />City of Arden Hills <br />Planning Commission Meeting for November 8, 2023 <br />P:\Planning\Planning Cases\2023\PC 23-018, Wahlberg Solar Energy System – CA <br />Page 2 of 8 <br /> <br />Requested Information <br /> <br />Aesthetics, Screening, and Visibility <br />The Planning Commission directed staff to investigate ordinance language to provide for the <br />aesthetics, screening, and visibility of ground-mounted solar energy systems. Staff reviewed the <br />ordinances of neighboring cities for language that could be incorporated to balance solar energy <br />system development with maintaining community character in residential zoning districts through <br />provisions for aesthetics, screening, and visibility. <br /> <br />Ten of the 17 communities originally surveyed permitted ground-mounted solar energy systems <br />in at least one residential zoning district. Five out of the ten solar ordinances referenced the <br />screening, visibility, or aesthetics of ground-mounted systems. One of the ten solar ordinances <br />referenced design standards for electrical lines accompanying a solar energy system. Below is <br />some of the language used in the solar ordinances of these communities. <br />- Mounds View - Ground-mounted SES [solar energy systems] shall be screened from view <br />to the extent possible without reducing their efficiency. Screening may include walls, <br />fences or landscaping. <br />- Falcon Heights and Roseville - Solar energy systems using roof-mounting devices or <br />ground-mount solar energy systems shall not be restricted if the system is not visible from <br />the closest edge of any public right-of-way other than an alley. <br />- St Anthony Village - The supporting framework for freestanding solar energy systems shall <br />not include unfinished lumber. Any lines accompanying a solar energy system, other than <br />those attached to on-site structures by leads, shall be buried within the interior of the subject <br />parcel, unless there are existing lines in the area which the lines accompanying a solar <br />energy system can be attached. The Zoning Administrator may grant exemptions to this <br />requirement in instances where shallow bedrock, water courses, or other elements of the <br />natural landscape interfere with the ability to bury lines. <br />- North Oaks (drafted ordinance under consideration) - Ground Mounted Solar Energy <br />Systems shall be designed to minimize visual impacts from the public right-of-way and <br />adjacent property. A mix of deciduous and evergreen trees and shrubs shall be provided to <br />buffer the panels from adjacent properties. Natural looking and effective screening is <br />desired, however, as part of the conditional use permit, the City may permit fences in <br />addition to or in lieu of landscaping to provide appropriate screening from adjacent public <br />rights-of-way and neighboring properties. <br /> <br />Zoning Code Section 1325.02 Accessory Uses Subd. 7(A)(3) of the proposed ordinance <br />amendment has been modified with language from the Mounds View ordinance. The updated <br />language establishes that ground-mounted solar energy systems shall not be visible from the right- <br />of-way and systems that would be visible to the right-of-way or immediately adjacent residential <br />properties shall require screening. The Planning Commission is asked to consider the drafted <br />provision for screening in the updated ordinance amendment and can suggest amendments if the <br />Commission determines additional or different standards should be added. The Planning <br />Commission may also wish to discuss a hybrid of ordinance language for visibility that would only