11-08-23 PC Agenda - Laserfiche WebLink

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Minnesota Model Solar Ordinance 10 V. Principal Uses – Model Community encourages the development of commercial or utility scale solar energy systems where such systems present few land use conflicts with current and future development patterns. Ground-mounted solar energy systems that are the principal use on the development lot or lots are conditional uses in selected districts. A. Principal Use General Standards 1. Site Design a. Set-backs – Community- and large-scale solar arrays must meet the following setbacks: 1. Property line setback for buildings or structures in the district in which the system is located, except as other determined in 1.a.5 below. 2. Roadway setback of 150 feet from the ROW centerline of State highways and CSAHs, 100 feet for other roads, except as other determined in 1.a.5 below. 3. Housing unit setback of 150 feet from any existing dwelling unit, except as other determined in 1.a.5 below. 4. Setback distance should be measured from the edge of the solar energy system array, excluding security fencing, screening, or berm. 5. All setbacks can be reduced by 50% if the array is fully screened from the setback point of measurement. b. Screening – Community- and large-scale solar shall be screened from existing residential dwellings. 1. A screening plan shall be submitted that identifies the type and extent of screening. 2. Screening shall be consistent with Model Community’s screening ordinance or standards typically applied for other land uses requiring screening. 3. Screening shall not be required along property lines within the same zoning district, except where the adjoining lot has an existing residential use. 4. Model Community may require screening where it determines there is a clear community interest in maintaining a viewshed. Screening The community should consider limiting screening of community- or large-scale solar to where there is a visual impact from an existing use, such as adjacent residential districts or uses. Solar energy systems may not need to be screened from adjacent lots if those lots are in agricultural use, are non- residential, or have low-intensity commercial use. Community-Scale Solar or Solar Gardens Community solar systems differ from rooftop or solar farm installations primarily in regards to system ownership and disposition of the electricity generated, rather than land use considerations. There is, however, a somewhat greater community interest in community solar, and thus communities should consider creating a separate land use category. This language limits the size of the garden to ten acres, which is an installation of no more than one MW of solar capacity. Communities should tailor this size limit to community standards, which may be smaller or larger. Appropriate Setbacks The community should consider balancing set-back requirements and screening requirements for principal use solar. Since the primary impact to neighbors of large-scale solar is visual, screening becomes less useful, as the setbacks get larger (and vice versa). The setback distances provided here are general examples that should be modified to be consistent with other setbacks already in the ordinance. Excessive setbacks that are unique to solar land uses, or that are similar to high nuisance land uses such as industrial uses or animal agriculture, are unjustified given the low level of risk or nuisance posed by the system.