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MINUTES OF THE <br />ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING <br />Monday, June 19, 2017 <br />6:30 o'clock p.m. <br />Barnhart stated to his understanding the City Council wanted to limit hardcover. The goal of the City is <br />to have solar panels integrated into the design of the property since retrofitting them on a house is not that <br />easy. <br />Landgraver asked whether the screening consists entirely of deciduous trees. <br />Barnhart stated a big part of it was deciduous trees. Barnhart stated the screening from the foliage will <br />likely go away during the winter but some screening will still remain with the tree trunks. Barnhart noted <br />the City does not require screening that prevents someone from seeing something year-round but they <br />attempt to mitigate it as much as practical. <br />Lemke asked if it would make sense to take another look at the City's regulations to allow ground based <br />solar panels. <br />Barnhart stated that can be added to the list of ordinances to be reviewed. <br />Larry Baran, Applicant, stated if the system is placed on the house, he would only be able to have a 3 <br />kilowatt system, which would not be cost effective. The ground mounted system would be 8 kilowatts <br />and cover his electrical use for the most part. <br />Baran stated in 1986, his father placed solar panels on his building in Chicago for hot water. Baran stated <br />the system worked fine but then the roof needed to be replaced and the panels had to be removed at a cost <br />of $2,500. <br />Kristin Sakwitz, All Energy Solar, stated part of the City's Comprehensive Land Use Plan states that the <br />City wants its residents and property owners to use their private land and resources to promote alternative <br />sources of energy, which this falls in line with. <br />Chair Thiesse opened the public hearing at 7:12 p.m. <br />There were no public comments regarding this application. <br />Page 2 of 3 <br />