11-08-23 PC Agenda - Laserfiche WebLink

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Minnesota Model Solar Ordinance 12 2. Stormwater and NPDES - Solar farms are subject to Model Community’s stormwater management and erosion and sediment control provisions and NPDES permit requirements. Solar collectors shall not be considered impervious surfaces if the project is certified as beneficial habitat solar, as described in A.1.c.2. of this ordinance. 3. Other standards and codes - All solar farms shall be in compliance with all applicable local, state and federal regulatory codes, including the State of Minnesota Uniform Building Code, as amended; and the National Electric Code, as amended. 4. Site Plan Required - A detailed site plan for both existing and proposed conditions must be submitted, showing location of all solar arrays, other structures, property lines, rights-of-way, service roads, floodplains, wetlands and other protected natural resources, topography, electric equipment, and all other characteristics requested by Model Community. The site plan should show all zoning districts and overlay districts. 5. Aviation Protection - For solar farms located within 500 feet of an airport or within approach zones of an airport, the applicant must complete and provide the results of the Solar Glare Hazard Analysis Tool (SGHAT) for the Airport Traffic Control Tower cab and final approach paths, consistent with the Interim Policy, FAA Review of Solar Energy Projects on Federally Obligated Airports, or most recent version adopted by the FAA. 6. Agricultural Protection - Solar farms must comply with site assessment or soil identification standards that are intended to identify agricultural soils. Model Community may require mitigation for use of prime soils for solar array placement, including the following: a. Demonstrating co-location of agricultural uses (agrivoltaics) on the project site. b. Using an interim use or time-limited CUP that allows the site to be returned to agriculture at the end of life of the solar installation. c. Placing agricultural conservation easements on an equivalent number of prime soil acres adjacent to or surrounding the project site. d. Locating the project in a Drinking Water Supply Management Area or wellhead protection area. Site Plan Solar farm developers should provide a site plan similar to that required by the community for any other development. Refer to your existing ordinance to guide site plan submittal requirements. Stormwater and Water Quality Standards Perennial grasses and wildflowers planted under the panels, between arrays, and in setback or buffer areas will substantially mitigate the stormwater risks associated with solar arrays, and result in less runoff than typically seen from many types of agriculture. The ground cover standards in Section A.3. will mitigate many stormwater risks, although soil type and slope can still affect the need for additional stormwater mitigation. Solar with native perennial ground cover can provide multiple water quality benefits when converting from most agricultural crop uses. Both groundwater (limiting nitrate contamination) and surface waters (reducing phosphorus and sediment loading) can benefit if the system is appropriately designed. Aviation Standards, Glare This standard was developed for the FAA for solar installations on airport grounds. It can also be used for solar farm and garden development in areas adjacent to airports. This standard is not appropriate for areas where reflected light is not a safety concern. Agricultural Protection If the community has ordinances that protect agricultural soils, this provision applies those same standards to solar development. Communities should understand, however, that solar farms do not pose the same level or type of risk to agricultural practices as does housing or commercial development. Solar farms can be considered an interim use that can be easily turned back to agriculture at the end of the solar farm’s life (usually 25 years.)