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MINUTES OF THE <br />ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING <br />Tuesday, January 22, 2019 <br />6:30 o’clock p.m. <br />_____________________________________________________________________________________ <br /> <br />Page 2 of 4 <br /> <br />Barnhart noted he was not with the City at that time but that it likely related to a massing concern and an <br />impact to the neighborhood. <br /> <br />Landgraver stated to his belief the discussion revolved around solar panels being less intrusive on the roof <br />versus their back yard and that the Council felt people could go through the variance process if they <br />wanted something different. <br /> <br />Thiesse noted the applicants are pushing the rack as far away from the house as possible, which is <br />probably against the intent of the ordinance. <br /> <br />Isaac Lindstrom, All Energy Solar, stated this location was chosen because it has the best access to <br />sunlight, which is the primary goal, and that they have designed the best system available for her needs. <br />Pictures of the house and property were displayed. <br /> <br />Lindstrom noted even in the fall the roof is shaded pretty considerably by a tree, which is the primary <br />reason it was not proposed for the roof. There is an approximate 15 percent shade loss in the proposed <br />location. <br /> <br />Landgraver asked how the Planning Commission can be assured that these will not create a lot of glare. <br /> <br />Lindstrom indicated the purpose of the panels is to absorb sunlight and that it would not make sense if the <br />panels are reflecting a lot of that sunlight. The panels manufactured nowadays are covered with an <br />antireflective coating to make sure there is minimal glare, and, in fact, vertical windows generate more <br />glare. <br /> <br />Lemke asked if they have a steel or glass surface. <br /> <br />Lindstrom indicated they have a glass surface with an antireflective coating but that he does not have the <br />exact specifications. <br /> <br />Libby commented he would like to have solar panels on his home but in the winter time they would not <br />gather enough energy to make it feasible. Libby stated this is a technology that has changed and rapidly <br />accelerated in proficiency within the past three years. If someone looks at solar gardens and farms, both <br />private and public, in order for them to use this as a technology, many of them have to be ground <br />mounted, and that this might be something for the City to discuss in the future. <br /> <br />Libby stated in his view solar panels themselves are effective and produce more energy than they did two <br />years ago but that there are other methods of gathering solar energy. For example, in Europe they are <br />using a solar array that tracks the sun and those are relatively unobtrusive. The panels also close up and <br />fold down to protect itself from the elements. Libby indicated he would tend to be open-minded about the <br />placement of the array as long as it is not intrusive to the neighbors. <br /> <br />Lemke asked if these are fixed panels. <br /> <br />Lindstrom indicated they are fixed panels with a 35 percent tilt. <br /> <br />Ferril stated they moved into the house 36 years ago and it was solid buckthorn that she thought was <br />pretty until she took a course at the technical college. The lot is just short of three acres and is very