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#14-3700 Amend Section 78-1379 November 13,2014 Page 6 CommerciaVIndustrial WECS The 2013 draft ordinance did not allow for commerciaUindustrial WECS and therefore did not include standards for them. Model ordinances suggest differing capacities for residential versus commercial WECS. For instance, the MPCA model defines commercial WECS as equal to or greater than 100 kW and non-commercial as less than 100 kW. The MAC model suggests that SWECS for residential use would not exceed 15 kW and for commercial would be a maximum of 100 kW. A key point for Planning Commission to consider is whether Orono's limited commercial districts should allow for WECS or SWECS. Except for the Highway 12 corridor,virtually all of Orono's commercial areas are within the designated Shoreland Overlay District, including Navarre and the B-2 marina zones. The few Orono commercial sites along Wayzata Boulevard and the 40 acre Industrial Park are the only non-residential azeas of Orono that are not in the Shoreland. Consideration should also be given to the potential purposes of WECS or SWECS in a commerciaUindustrial setting - to provide electricity to serve the existing use; to generate excess power for the grid; displayed for sale to potential SWECS customers; or merely as a method of drawing attention to a commercial business. Will any of these uses require a total heiglnt higher than would be found in a Residential SWECS? Issues for Consideration 1) The intent of this study is to establish standards for SWECS as defined by state statute, i.e. those WECS less than 5000 kW capacity. 2) The City can establish a wide variety of standards for SWECS that provide for appropriate siting, design, construction, operation, safety, and compatibility with surrounding land uses. The 2013 draft was purposely quite limiting in many respects, and should be reviewed to consider whether those standards should be revised. 3) The 2013 draft ordinance may be a useful starting point for review; however, Planning Commission should be open to taking into consideration viewpoints from the industry, property owners, and other regulatory agencies in crafting an ordinance that meets the City's goals. 4) Planning Commission should consider whether SWECS should be an allowed use in commerciaUindustrial districts. If so, should they be subject to different standards than residential SWECS?