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ARDEN HILLS PLANNING COMMISSION – October 4, 2023 4 March 8, 2023 and approved by the City Council on April 10, 2023. While the Solar Energy Systems definitions are applicable to the City as a whole, the special provisions and CUP process for Solar Energy Systems were specifically established for the Conservation District. Senior Planner Fransen reviewed the Plan Evaluation and provided the Findings of Fact for review: General Findings: 1. Donald Wahlberg, The Applicant, is proposing amendments to the language of Chapter 13 – Zoning Code of the City Code. 2. Under the City’s Zoning Code Section 1320.05, a Solar Energy System is considered a prohibited land use in the Residential Districts. 3. The Applicant is proposing an amendment to alter the Land Use Chart in Sections 1320.05 and 1325.02 of the Zoning Code to allow a Solar Energy System as an Accessory Use in the R-1, R-2, and R-3 Residential Districts. 4. The City is proposing to add special provisions for Solar Energy Systems to Section 1325.02 – Accessory Uses. 5. Of 17 local communities surveyed, a majority allow for ground-mounted solar energy systems as a use in residential districts which can be approved administratively. 6. In Chapter 10 of the 2040 Comprehensive Plan – Protected Resources, “City encourages development of distributed solar energy systems that are in keeping with the community’s character and use community solar resources” is listed as an implementation strategy. 7. In Chapter 12 of the 2040 Comprehensive Plan – Resilience and Sustainability, “Encourage the use of renewable energy and work to protect access to direct sunlight for solar energy systems” is listed as an implementation strategy. 8. Amendments to the Zoning Code regulations require a public hearing prior to action by the City Council. 9. If the zoning amendments were approved, an Applicant would be required to apply for administrative review and approval for a Solar Energy System within the R-1, R-2, and R- 3 Residential Districts. Senior Planner Fransen reviewed the options available to the Planning Commission for Planning Case 23-018 for a Zoning Code Amendment to Chapter 13 of the Arden Hills City Code to allow Solar Energy Systems as an Accessory Use in the R-1, R-2, and R-3 Residential Zoning Districts: 1. Recommend Approval 2. Recommend Approval with Amendments 3. Recommend Denial 4. Table Chair Vijums opened the floor to Commissioner comments. Commissioner Weber asked if the ground mounted solar counted as an accessory structure for a property. Senior Planner Fransen reported this would be the case in the drafted Ordinance language. Commissioner Collins questioned what type of approvals would be needed for a ground mounted solar array.