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Regular Planning Commission Meeting Minutes – Wednesday, April 1, 2015 Page 4 perfect for solar energy collection, but future language would attempt to protect 147 reasonable solar energy production for residential and/or commercial properties. 148 Mr. Lloyd advised that the exact language of such an easement remained unknown at 149 this time, and would also be affected by the City’s ongoing discussion about tree 150 preservation, and be developed in tandem as the community discussed the value of trees 151 while recognizing their impact with solar access and energy production. Mr. Lloyd noted 152 that the ultimate goal would be to reach a trade-off or ability to clearly work together to 153 encourage and facilitate both in Roseville at this time and as new solar technologies 154 evolve. Mr. Lloyd noted that, at this time, staff had simply included a placeholder in the 155 draft Subdivision Code and encouraged input from the Commission to reach a 156 reasonable and effective balance for both issues. 157 Discussion ensued on solar access stipulations and their application for new parcels 158 created in a subdivision, similar to the requirements for drainage and/or utility easements 159 applying when new parcels are developed or subdividing plats; and potential public 160 easements for commercial or industrial rooftops for installation of solar gardens or for 161 solar collection purpose, as well as potentially wind structures in industrial areas and 162 whether or not this may be a future consideration to encourage such uses and 163 addressing shadow lines created by other buildings. 164 Specific to solar arrays on commercial buildings, Mr. Lloyd advised that he did not see 165 any type of public easement for such a collection side in an industrial area, but 166 recognized that the Zoning Code may need to facilitate those if a public utility or private 167 owner sought such a use. 168 Community Development Director Paul Bilotta advised that staff was currently looking 169 into how best to facilitate such a use. Mr. Bilotta noted that a recent joint venture was 170 approved by the City Council and the St. Paul Port Authority for financing solar 171 installations, with a solar installation at St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church near Highway 172 36 in Roseville being one of the first recipients of that financing. Not only is this the first 173 time a religious entity was doing so, but Mr. Bilotta reported that a typically difficult to 174 finance installation such as this had been accomplished by the St. Paul Port Authority. 175 Since such installations do not add to a property’s value, Mr. Bilotta advised that banks 176 were hesitant to finance them; so the Port Authority’s ability to finance them upfront and 177 be paid off as a special assessment on the local tax rolls kept the bank out of the picture, 178 but allowed the City the ability to serve as a funding conduit, while the Port Authority bore 179 all the risk. Mr. Bilotta advised that this financing tool was available for businesses, multi- 180 family residential projects of four or more units, and all commercial uses, and was now in 181 place. 182 At the request of Chair Boguszewski, Mr. Lloyd advised that additional text amendments 183 and provisions such as solar energy systems would involved more thought and public 184 input. However, Mr. Lloyd noted that the City Council would be reviewing revisions to the 185 current Tree Preservation Ordinance in the near future but had delayed it as it also 186 considered alternatives to filling the full-time Forester position beyond the original 187 proposal for the position. Until those options are fully considered, Mr. Bilotta advised that 188 the City Council had put the tree preservation ordinance update on hold, and it and this 189 Subdivision Ordinance would both provide numerous opportunities for public input, 190 informally and formally, as they overlapped in some areas. 191 Further discussion included how broad parameters of the Subdivision Code would be 192 related to solar access easements and similarities to other easements and which 193 easements would be required or optional as a developer tool; Minnesota climate 194 considerations on such a tool; differences in established neighborhood versus new 195 projects moving forward and what type or size of subdivision action triggered solar 196 easements; and how much the City wanted to regulate or facilitate this tool. 197 Attachment B, Page 6, (B. Sketch Plan, Lines 181 - 197) 198 Member Cunningham asked if a sketch plan was essentially in place of a preliminary plat; 199