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MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING <br /> Monday,February 11,2019 <br /> 7:00 o'clock p.m. <br /> Lindstrom indicated at the shortest it would be 10 feet and at the highest it would be 11 feet. Lindstrom <br /> indicated he has seen most city ordinances between 13 and 15 feet, so this is below other cities' <br /> restrictions for ground arrays. <br /> Barnhart noted the lot is not flat and is high at one end and low on the other. <br /> Crosby asked how visible it would be to the neighbors. <br /> Barnhart indicated it will likely be fairly visible. The challenge from a visibility standpoint is the <br /> applicants would be allowed to place the solar panels on top of a building,which would be more <br /> noticeable,especially from the south,and the structure cannot be screened. <br /> Seals asked how many panels would be installed. <br /> Lindstrom indicated 24 panels. <br /> Seals stated the only set of solar panels she has observed being mounted on the ground are over by Share <br /> Farms. While someone will know it is there,there is also a lot of nature around it so you can look past it. <br /> If you put solar panels on top of a building,they will be more visible. <br /> Lindstrom noted Orono has previously issued a variance for a ground mounted solar array. <br /> Barnhart indicated that was approximately two years ago and the area was actually 100 percent screened. <br /> Walsh stated the City has a Code Review Committee and that the applicants are essentially asking the <br /> City to change their code. Walsh stated he does not see a practical difficulty and that in his view the <br /> appropriate way to bring this before the City is to go through that committee so they can discuss possible <br /> changes and their impacts. <br /> Lindstrom stated he can understand that,but it is specifically written into the Minnesota statute that <br /> access to sunlight is a practical difficulty and this house presents a challenge to direct access. The <br /> proposed location is directly facing south and will be a great spot for solar. Lindstrom stated he can <br /> understand where a code change might be necessary,but at the same time direct access to sunlight is a <br /> practical difficulty. <br /> Walsh commented he appreciates that,but noted the practical difficulty can be changed or eliminated by <br /> removing the trees. Walsh stated the applicant is asking the City to do something that is completely <br /> different from what the code reads and that it would be appropriate for the committee to review it. <br /> Crosby stated he would like to see it vetted more thoroughly to avoid setting a precedent. Trees are not a <br /> practical difficulty because the trees can be trimmed. <br /> Lindstrom noted this is being vetted more than if they had proposed to build an accessory building and <br /> place the solar panels on top of it,which would only require a building permit. <br /> Walsh stated that is one option,but that changing the code without any standards would open the door to <br /> anyone coming in with a similar request. Walsh stated he would like to look at what other cities have <br /> done and that he would not be in favor of a variance because it would change the city code. <br /> Page 8 of 11 <br />