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6.4 PCSR 03-22-2016 of ..._, Request for Action River To Item Number Planning Commission 6.4 Agenda Section Meeting Date Prepared by Public Hearing March 22,2016 Kristin Mroz,Environmental Technician Item Description Reviewed by City of Elk River Elk River request for Solar Energy Systems Ordinance Amendment, Case No. OA 16- Reviewed by 03 Action Requested Recommend approval of Ordinance Amendment related to Solar Energy Systems. Background/Discussion Elk River and Energy City have always been a supporter of renewable energy technology. Recently,we have seen an influx of interest in residential and commercial solar installations in the city due to financial incentives and regulatory acceptance. In order to maintain uniformity of solar installations throughout the community, city staff,along with Elk River Municipal Utilities (ERMU),is proposing a Solar Energy Systems Ordinance,guiding standards of installation appearance, fire safety concerns,permitting and notifications, and building code compliance. City and ERMU staff will work on developing a permit that will require approvals from the Planning, Environmental, and Building Departments,along with Elk River Municipal Utilities staff. The draft ordinance,prepared by both city and ERMU staff,has been through Site Plan Review and all major concerns at that time have since been addressed and updated into the attached draft. Financial Impact None Attachments • OA 16-03 IP-111E1E1 11 NATURE Solar Energy Systems Definitions Building-Integrated Solar Energy System. A solar energy system that is directly incorporated into the building by replacing typical building materials. Community Solar. Any centrally-located solar photovoltaic (PV) systems that provide electricity to participating subscribers residing or located off-site from the location of the solar energy system under the provisions of Minnesota statutes 216B.1641 or successor statute. Concentrated Solar System (CSS). A system using low to high-tempe .ture collectors (mirrors,lenses or other reflective surfaces) for the use of heating water or air. �:' Ground-Mounted Solar Energy System. A solar energy system stalled onto the ground directly or by means of brackets or poles. Photovoltaic System (PV). An active solar energy sy at converts energy directly into electricity. Roof means the cover of any building,includin. . r eaves and similar pro t •ns. Roof,Flat means a roof having a slope of less than t of n every 12 s,•f run. Roof-Mounted Solar Energy System. A -nergy system : to the roof of a s• cture. Roof, Pitched means a roof having a slo • of rise fo = . 12 units of run or greater. Solar Air Heat. See Solar Hot Air System Solar Energy System inclu• on � r • Sys 'ems,whose primary purpose is to provide for the co i:n,stora : •g . distrib olar ene or space heating or cooling, � electricity generation • :ter hea.,r -' Solar Fu •lar Ho' Solar .A comm � acilt ;;% converts ht into electricity,whether by photovoltaic (PV), conce ' . g solar the K vice` , or other conversion technology, for the principal purpose of wholesa E s of generate.-°F ?=rgy. Solar Hot Air '. An active r energy system that includes a solar collector to provide direct supplemental sp. ating by • g and re-circulating conditioned building air. Solar Hot Water. See '" .1 System Solar Storage Unit. A comp• t of a solar energy device that is used to store solar generated electricity or heat for later use. Solar Thermal System.A system that includes a solar collector and a heat exchanger that heats or preheats either a liquid or gas for building heating systems or other hot water needs of the building. Permitted accessory use. Solar energy systems are allowable as an accessory use in all zoning districts, subject to the following requirements: a) Standards 1. Height. a. All solar energy systems shall comply with the maximum height requirements in the application zoning district. b. On pitched roofs,no portion of a flush mounted or bracket mounted panel in any position, shall not exceed more than 6 inches from the roof peak of the roof plane they are attached to. c. On flat roofs,no portion of a flush mounted or bracket mounted panel in any position, shall exceed a height of five (5) feet above the flat roof they are attached to. d. Ground-mounted solar energy systems shall not e -d the maximum accessory structure height in any zoning district when oriented at •; m tilt. 2. Setbacks. a. Roof-mounted solar energysgstems 1. Shall comply with all buil c ; etbacks in �1 .plicable zoning district and shall not extend beyond th or perimeter o .wilding on which the system is mounted. 2. Exterior piping for sofa : water sy ms shall be ed to extend beyond the perimeter of the hulls • � an two (2) fe- side and rear yards only. Ground mounted solar ene-_ � � a 1. Shall be treate an . ory strut nd shall comply with all accessory cture setbac ,,. the a. .le zo h strict. extend • e s ear s.,•ack when oriented in any osirio or resits .1 system t., -ated within the urban service district, systems shall be ted ear and s ardsonly. 3. er ms shay s : Minn. Stats. §1305.3113. r b. For all as o<rions service re, _ .R may be required. 4. Solar syste ,r all be ' ed and located in order to prevent reflective glare toward any d buildings o 1•'acent . :„erties,as well as adjacent street right-of-way to the fullest poss - tent. When •ssary,s r eening may be required to prevent glare. a. rated Solar ;ms shall conduct a glare study to identify the impacts of the system on d occu d rights-of-way within a half-mile of the project boundary. The glare .uil.• .� study sh < . . . ess aviation impacts. 5. Exemption. Building Buildin4.0tegrated solar energy systems are exempt from the requirements of this section and shall be regulated by the building code. b)Permits and Notifications 1. Permits. The erection, alteration,improvement,reconstruction, and relocation of a solar energy system require a building permit from the city. a. Applications.An applicant for a solar system permit shall make application to the Building Department. The application shall accurately state: 1. The name and contact information of the applicant. 2. The name and contact information of the installer. 3. The address of the project being applied for. 4. To-scale horizontal and vertical elevation drawings showing: 1. Location of the system on the building or on the property, including property lines. 2. Any exterior devices (such as but not limited to inverters, electrical boxes,batteries, etc.) 3. For roof-top solar: a. All systems shall show the distance to the roof edges, parapets,ridges,roof penetrations, or changes in roof plane. b. Pitched roof mounted systems shall show the highest finished slope of - solar collector and the slope of the finished r' face on which it is mounted. b. Approval—Applications that meet the ements of this ordinance,and do not require a variance, shall be granted a'x qk te 44.. approval by the Building Official. Plan approval does not indi ci plianc a Building,Electric,or Plumbing Code. 2. Utility Notification. The owner of a solar ener•, e 3 em that will physica I ect to a house or other ' d must a l for a ' :'*. agreement with the building's electrical system and/or the electric .�_� gri pp y gr municipal utility prior to the issuance of a building F �+ •t. -, c) Compliance 1. Compliance with building codes. All solar s shall c. with the Minnesota Building Code and any local building code req • nts. a. Solar hot s shall co ' i�, 'th H elates s ' ements of the Energy Code. 2. Compliance with elec All so ro ergy sys a .11 comp th the National Electrical Code. a. Electric sola gy sys g compon j ust have a UL listing b. S. s, •of water . ; " e an S rating 3. Compli�� � <' code.` ar they ste all comply with the Minnesota State Plumbing p y g co .. d) Abandonmen 1. If the solar e system rem: `•,nonfun...nal or inoperative for more than twelve (12) consecutive months, the s : x• shall cons e a public nuisance. The property owner shall obtain a demolition permit and remo aband. system at their expense. Removal includes the entire structure, including collector, t, . : ansmission equipment. e) Conditional Uses 1.Any Community Solar or Solar Farm project shall require a Conditional Use Permit. 2.Any solar project exceeding 40 kW shall require a Conditional Use Permit. 3.Any solar project developed over public or semi-public existing infrastructure (i.e. trail,parking lot, sidewalk,pavilion, etc.) shall require a Conditional Use Permit.