Request of New Energy Equity, on behalf of the property owner, for an interim use permit to allow for a one-megawatt community solar garden in the Lime Township Rural Conservation zoning district. The subject property is described as The Northeast Quarter of the Northwest Quarter, except railroad right of ways, and the Northwest Quarter of the Northeast Quarter, both in Section 29, Township 109, Range 26, excepting from said Northwest Quarter Northeast Quarter that part of said Northwest Quarter Northeast Quarter described as, beginning at a point 1315.8 feet South of the Northeast corner of Section 29-109-26, thence West 1808.8 feet to the East line of the Right of Way of the Chicago & Northwestern Railway, thence southwesterly along the said Right of Way line, 1264.6 feet, thence East 1692.3 feet to the East line of said Section 29, thence North along the section line 1249.8 feet to the place of beginning. A strip of land one (1) rod wide now used as a road, extending from East to West upon, over and across the North side of the Northwest Quarter of the Northwest Quarter (NW1/4 NW1/4) of Section 29, Township 109 North of Range 26 West, beginning at or near the Northeast corner of said NW1/4 NW1/4 of Sec. 29, and thence West along or near the North line of said NW1/4 NW1/4 of said Sec. 29, to the public highway known as the Mankato and St. Peter Road. The East 302.00 feet of the Northwest Quarter of the Northwest Quarter of Section 29, Township 109, Range 26, Blue Earth County, Minnesota, except the South 16.5 feet thereof. Except therefrom: Part of the Northwest Quarter of the Northwest Quarter and part of the Northeast Quarter of the Northwest Quarter of Section 29, Township 109 North, Range 26 West, Blue Earth County, Minnesota described as: Commencing at the Southeast corner of said Northwest Quarter of the Northwest Quarter; thence North 89 degrees 41 minutes 42 seconds West (bearings are based on Blue Earth County Coordinates NAD83, 1996 Adjustment) on the south line of said Northwest Quarter of the Northwest Quarter, a distance of 78.00 feet; thence North 12 degrees 41 minutes 56 seconds East, a distance of 16.89 feet to the north line of the south 16.5 feet of said Northwest Quarter of the Northwest Quarter and the point of beginning; thence North 12 degrees 41 minutes 56 seconds East, a distance of 589.95 feet to the westerly right of way of the abandoned Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad Company; thence South 05 degrees 40 minutes 37 seconds West on said westerly right of way, a distance of 558.85 feet to the east line of said Northwest Quarter of the Northwest Quarter; thence South 00 degrees 11 minutes 26 seconds West on said east line, a distance of 19.81 to the north line of the south 16.5 feet of said Northwest Quarter of the Northwest Quarter; thence North 89 degrees 41 minutes 42 seconds West on said north line, a distance of 74.34 feet to the point of beginning. (23759 3^rd Avenue; Blue Earth County PID R400429200017).

The applicant, New Energy Equity, with permission of the property owner John Bohrer.
 

Brian Keenan, on behalf of New Energy Equity, with permission of the property owner, has applied for an interim use permit to allow a one-megawatt solar garden on an approximately 7.2-acre site at the site located at 23759 Third Avenue. Access to the site is shown from 3rd Avenue along a proposed 33’ easement. The panels are situated approximately 2000’ from 3rd Avenue. 
 

The subject property is zoned Conservation and is legally described as The Northeast Quarter of the Northwest Quarter, except railroad right of ways, and the Northwest Quarter of the Northeast Quarter, both in Section 29, Township 109, Range 26, excepting from said Northwest Quarter Northeast Quarter that part of said Northwest Quarter Northeast Quarter described as, beginning at a point 1315.8 feet South of the Northeast corner of Section 29-109-26, thence West 1808.8 feet to the East line of the Right of Way of the Chicago & Northwestern Railway, thence southwesterly along the said Right of Way line, 1264.6 feet, thence East 1692.3 feet to the East line of said Section 29, thence North along the section line 1249.8 feet to the place of beginning. A strip of land one (1) rod wide now used as a road, extending from East to West upon, over and across the North side of the Northwest Quarter of the Northwest Quarter (NW1/4 NW1/4) of Section 29, Township 109 North of Range 26 West, beginning at or near the Northeast corner of said NW1/4 NW1/4 of Sec. 29, and thence West along or near the North line of said NW1/4 NW1/4 of said Sec. 29, to the public highway known as the Mankato and St. Peter Road. The East 302.00 feet of the Northwest Quarter of the Northwest Quarter of Section 29, Township 109, Range 26, Blue Earth County, Minnesota, except the South 16.5 feet thereof. Except therefrom: Part of the Northwest Quarter of the Northwest Quarter and part of the Northeast Quarter of the Northwest Quarter of Section 29, Township 109 North, Range 26 West, Blue Earth County, Minnesota described as: Commencing at the Southeast corner of said Northwest Quarter of the Northwest Quarter; thence North 89 degrees 41 minutes 42 seconds West (bearings are based on Blue Earth County Coordinates NAD83, 1996 Adjustment) on the south line of said Northwest Quarter of the Northwest Quarter, a distance of 78.00 feet; thence North 12 degrees 41 minutes 56 seconds East, a distance of 16.89 feet to the north line of the south 16.5 feet of said Northwest Quarter of the Northwest Quarter and the point of beginning; thence North 12 degrees 41 minutes 56 seconds East, a distance of 589.95 feet to the westerly right of way of the abandoned Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad Company; thence South 05 degrees 40 minutes 37 seconds West on said westerly right of way, a distance of 558.85 feet to the east line of said Northwest Quarter of the Northwest Quarter; thence South 00 degrees 11 minutes 26 seconds West on said east line, a distance of 19.81 to the north line of the south 16.5 feet of said Northwest Quarter of the Northwest Quarter; thence North 89 degrees 41 minutes 42 seconds West on said north line, a distance of 74.34 feet to the point of beginning. (23759 3rd Avenue; Blue Earth County PID R400429200017).
 

The parcel is made of 84.22 acre and is currently used for agricultural purposes.
 

The property is located in Lime Township and is zoned Rural Conservation.
 

The site has been delineated for wetland through Blue Earth County. Wetlands are located on the parcel, but are not present in the proposed development window for the solar panels. 

The Lime Township Ordinance can be found at this link: Lime Township Ordinances
 

The applicant, New Energy Equity, is requesting an Interim use permit with permission of the property owner to allow the construction and operation of a 1-megawatt community solar garden, in the Rural conservation district, in Lime Township. The subject property consists of 84.22 acres and the applicant submitted a plan to utilize 7.2 acres of said acres for the solar facilities.

The applicant has requested a 36-year interim use permit for the construction, operation, and ownership of a community solar garden.

The site plan depicts a site entrance off of 3^rd Avenue. The garden will consist of approximately 2,592 solar modules that are proposed to be mounted to a driven pile. The installation height will range between 8’ to 12’. The panels will be arranged into rows from north to south. Each row of solar panels will connect to an inverter. The inverters will be connected by directionally bored underground conduit that is housed inside a PVC housing, which will be installed two feet below the surface. The Solar Garden will comply with Minnesota Rules 7030 governing noise.