01-20-2015 Planning Commission Packet

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING Monday, November 17, 2014 7:00 o’clock p.m. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Page 2 of 23 Elements of the study process will include the following: A review of the various types of SWECS and their capabilities and limitations, as well as potential impacts to surrounding properties and uses; a review of various model ordinances and existing ordinances enacted by other local municipalities with regard to SWECS; and consideration of where and under what conditions SWECS should be allowed in Orono. Gaffron stated the 2013 draft also included the following list of potential measures to mitigate the impacts various alternative energy systems could have on neighborhoods: 1. Establishment of the defined types of systems that are allowed or prohibited; 2. Establishment of appropriate locations for each type of alternative energy system to ensure proper location of the systems. Those would include the minimum size of the property required and minimum setbacks from property boundaries and/or from offsite residences; 3. Establishment of standard procedures for construction process to minimize impacts of access, materials storage, erosion or other land disturbances, etc.; 4. Establishment of system design or performance standards that would eliminate the potential for the impacts noted above, such as standards for height, system size or capacity, physical location in relation to attachment to the ground or to structures, location of associated mechanical equipment, use of screening, visual aesthetics, safety, etc.; 5. Establishment of standards for system abandonment; and 6. Establishment of permit requirements. Gaffron noted the Planning Commission reviewed alternative energy systems in 2013. During that review, the Planning Commission reviewed sample WECS codes from a number of cities. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has also generated a model ordinance similar to many others, which suggests the following punch list of items should be included in a WECS ordinance in establishing wind generators located in a residential neighborhood: A. Distinguish between types of wind energy applications B. Define necessary permits C. Identify wind resource standards d. Establish setbacks E. Establish Safety Standards F. Establish Design Standards G. Establish other applicable standards H. Minimize infrastructure impacts The ordinance draft reviewed by the Planning Commission in November of 2013 addressed many of the above elements and avoided or purposely did not address others. The 2013 draft established three types of wind turbines based on the nameplate generating capacity. The draft did not acknowledge that WECS of 5,000 kW capacity or larger are state-regulated. Item #01 - PC Agenda - 01/20/2015 Approval of Planning Commission Minutes [Page 2 of 23]