Terry Traver
Scandia Reporter
At the June 21 Scandia City Council meeting, Planning Commissioner Walt Anderson asked to address the council regarding a request from Ameresco (an independent energy service company) for a conditional use permit to develop a community solar garden to be located on approximately 40 acres at 23359 Oldfield Road North. There were quite a few interested Scandia residents in attendance and also representatives from Ameresco.
The Planning Commission had reviewed the request for the permit at a public hearing on March 2 and at two additional meetings on April 5 and June 7. City Planner Sheri Buss advised the council that homeowners had addressed the Planning Commission three times, the last time at the June meeting.
“There were general concerns, such as whether this property is screened enough or can be screened more,” Buss said. “It is screened as much as possible per city ordinance.” The Planning Commission recommended that the council approve the permit with some conditions.
Anderson’s concerns included the screening, such as the size of trees and shrubs that would be used at the solar garden site. He said without using trees possibly more than 12 feet high, the garden panel array could be seen by the residents there. The site is on a hill, he explained.
“I think it’s the wrong ground to begin with,” Anderson said. “When it goes up a hill, it can’t be screened properly. Not all ground is conducive to solar gardens.”
Some residents were also concerned that property values would be affected. Ameresco representatives said that different screening would be unfair to property owners because it would unfairly affect property values. An Ameresco representative said that homeowners can subscribe for free and get a reduction on their energy bill. The savings per household could be as much as $100 per year.
Mary Matze, a planner with land consultant Landform, showed a video simulation of proposed screening at the Oldfield location with landscaping and berms included. The video had been viewed previously at a Planning Commission meeting. Anderson was concerned that the video misrepresented the contour of the land.
The council members were torn on the topic.
Councilman Jim Schneider said, “I am for it and against it for various reasons.”
Councilman Dan Lee worried that approving the project might open the door for more controversial projects in the future.
The council voted unanimously to table the issue for now and revisit it at the July meeting. The council asked to see a landscaping plan and a tree count of trees 10 to 12 feet tall that will be used for screening.
Veterans Memorial
The council discussed the draft of an agreement with Scandia Marine Lions Foundation and the Scandia Veterans Memorial Committee concerning responsibility for construction, capital improvements and maintenance of the Scandia Veterans Memorial project, which was previously approved by the city in July 2015 and to be completed and placed in Lilleskogen Park by Veterans Day of this year.
The draft agreement states that the Scandia Veterans Memorial Committee agrees to construct the memorial on the park site as previously approved by the city. It would be a part of the city-owned park open to the public during park hours. The committee may use the premises for conducting any veteran or military service appreciation ceremony at its discretion. The Scandia Marine Lions Foundation will oversee all costs of construction and maintenance to keep the memorial in good condition.
The memorial committee and Lions foundation will oversee the maintenance of the memorial premises, and the city will continue to oversee the maintenance of the park outside the perimeter of the memorial.
The city agrees to provide insurance coverage for the memorial premises at $1 per $100 of coverage. The city will also provide workers compensation and liability insurance coverage for volunteer workers at the site pursuant to a volunteer policy once one is adopted. This coverage is already included in the city’s policies.
The committee will be solely responsible for conducting fundraising drives. All donations to the committee will be the property of the foundation.
The agreement was adopted unanimously by the council.