HomeMy Public PortalAbout586 Ordinance Related to Solar Equipment; Amending Chapter 8 of the City CodeCITY OF MEDINA
ORDINANCE NO.586
AN ORDINANCE RELATED TO SOLAR EQUIPMENT;
AMENDING CHAPTER 8 OF THE CITY CODE
The City Council of the City of Medina ordains as follows:
SECTION I. Section 828.09 of the code of ordinances of the city of Medina is amended by
deleting the stricken language and adding the underline( language as follows:
Section 828.09. Solar Equipment. Any equipment or device that utilizes, operates or supplies
energy derived from the sun shall meet the following standards:
Subd. 1. Solar Equipment, if affixed to a structure. The following standards shall apply to
Solar Equipment which is affixed to a structure:
(a) The equipment or device must be affixed to a structure and meet all setback requirements
for principal structures in the zoning district where located.
(b) The equipment or device may not exceed the height of the building by more than five
feet, and shall cover no more than 70 percent of the roof to which it is affixed.
(c) The equipment or device must be designed and constructed in compliance with all
applicable building and electrical codes.
(d) The equipment or device must be in compliance with all state and federal regulations
regarding co -generation of energy.
(e) All solar arrays or panels shall be installed or positioned so as not to cause any glare or
reflective sunlight onto neighboring properties or structures, or obstruct views.
(f) Solar equipment which is mounted to a roof which is not flat, and which is visible from
the nearest right-of-way, shall not have a finished pitch more than five percent steeper
than the roof.
(g) The zoning administrator may require compliance with any other conditions, restrictions
or limitations deemed reasonably necessary to protect the residential character of the
neighborhood, if applicable.
Subd. 2. Solar Equipment, if not affixed to a structure.
The following standards shall apply to Solar Equipment which is not affixed to a
structure, within the Business and Industrial Park zonin district:.:
(a)a) Solar Equipment which is not affixed to a structure shall only be permitted in
the Business and Industrial Park zoning districts and only following Conditional
Use Permit approval.
NW) Solar Equipment shall be a minimum of 300 feet from residential property.
(c--)(iii) Solar Equipment shall meet all setback requirements for principal structures
in the zoning district where located.
(E1)(4/1 The footprint occupied by Solar Equipment shall be considered lot coverage
and impervious surface for the purpose of calculating such standards. The
Ordinance No. 586 1
August 5, 2015
footprint shall include all space between pieces of Solar Equipment, unless the
pieces are separated by more than 25 feet.
(e)(v) The footprint occupied by Solar Equipment shall not exceed 20% of the lot.
(f}(vi) The equipment or device may not exceed a height of 20 feet.
(g)(vii) The City may require landscaping or other means of screening to limit visual
impacts of the mounting devices of the Solar Equipment.
(l viii) The equipment or device must be designed and constructed in compliance
with all applicable building and electrical codes.
(fixThe equipment or device must be in compliance with all state and federal
regulations regarding co -generation of energy.
f(x. All solar arrays or panels shall be installed or positioned so as not to cause any
glare or reflective sunlight onto neighboring properties or structures, or obstruct
views.
(k)(xi) The City may require compliance with any other conditions, restrictions or
limitations deemed reasonably necessary to protect the public health, safety, and
welfare and to promote harmony with neighboring uses.
Lb The following standards shall apply to Solar Equipment which is not affixed to a
structure, within residential zoning districts in which such Equipment is s ermitted:
(i) Solar Equipment which is not affixed to a structure shall only be permitted in the
Agricultural Preservation, Rural Residential, Rural Residential -Urban Reserve,
Rural Residential-1, and Rural Residential-2 zoning districts and only following
Conditional Use Permit approval.
ii Solar E ui ment shall onl be ermitted on a arcel which is five acres or _ eater
in area.
iii) Solar Equipment shall onl be allowed as an accesso use on a . arcel with an
existing principal structure.
iv) Solar Equipment shall be set back a minimum of 100 feet from all propert
lines.
(v) The footprint occupied by Solar Equipment shall not exceed 1000 square feet.
(vi) The equipment or device may not exceed a height of 15 feet.
(vii) The City may require landscaping or other means of screening to limit visual
impacts of the Solar Equipment.
(viii) The equipment or device must be designed and constructed in compliance with
all applicable building and electrical codes.
(ix) The equipment or device must be in compliance with all state and -federal
re lations regarding co -generation of eneruv
x) All solar arrays or panels shall be installed or . ositioned so as not to cause an
glare or reflective sunlight onto neighboring properties or structures, or obstruct
views.
(xi The City may require compliance with any other conditions, restrictions or
limitations deemed reasonably necessary to protect the public health, safety, and
welfare and to promote harmony with neighboring uses.
Ordinance No. 586 2
August 5, 2015
SECTION II. Section 826.13 of the code of ordinances of the city of Medina is amended by
adding the underlined language as follows:
Section 826.13. (AG) Permitted Accessory Uses. Within the agricultural preservation zoning
district, the following uses shall be permitted accessory uses:
Subd. 11. Solar equipment which is not affixed to a structure, subject to conditional use
permit approval and compliance with performance standards of section 828.09 subd. 2(b)
of this ordinance.
SECTION III. Section 826.23 of the code of ordinances of the city of Medina is amended by
adding the underline language as follows:
Section 826.23. (RR) Permitted Accessory Uses. Within any Rural Residential District the
following uses shall be permitted accessory uses:
Subd. 13. Solar equipment which is not affixed to a structure, subject to conditional use
permit approval and compliance with performance standards of section 828.09 subd. 2(b)
of this ordinance.
SECTION IV. Section 826.25.4 of the code of ordinances of the city of Medina is amended by
adding the underlined language as follows:
Section 826.25.4. (RR-UR) Permitted Accessory Uses. Within the Urban Reserve district, the
following uses shall be permitted accessory uses when used in conjunction with a principal
structure:
Subd. 9. Solar equipment which is not affixed to a structure, sub_ ect to conditional use • ermit
approval and compliance with performance standards of section 828.09 subd. 2(b) of this
ordinance.
SECTION V. This ordinance shall become effective upon its adoption and publication.
Adopted by the Medina city council this 5th day of August, 2015.
Attest:
City Administrator -Clerk
Bob Mitchell, Mayor
Published in the Crow River News on the 13th day of August, 2015.
Ordinance No. 586 3
August 5, 2015
TV.
7,4