Consider the Natural Resources Aspects of a Ground-Mounted Solar Energy System Proposed at the Closed Landfill (Project No. 25-100)

The City has received a Land Use Application from Cedar Creek Energy (the "Applicant") to construct a ground-mounted solar energy system on two (2) parcels (PID #s 27-32-25-14-0003 & 27-32-25-11-0004) on the closed landfill site (the "Subject Property").  The State of Minnesota, as the Property Owner, and has joined in the application.

As part of the 2040 Comprehensive Plan Update, the State of Minnesota (via the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency) requested a new land use category, Closed Landfill, be added to the Comprehensive Plan.  With that addition, the City also added a new zoning district, Closed Landfill, to the Zoning Code as well.  The State of Minnesota requested the added land use designation so that it may be possible to utilize a portion of the Closed Landfill site for solar energy production.

Project Overview
The Applicant is proposing to install a 4.125-megawatt (MW) AC, 5.66 MW DC, ground-mounted, single-axis tracking solar PV array in the southeast portion of the closed landfill site.  No part of the solar array will be on the landfill 'cap'.  All the power generated from this system will be supplied to Connexus Energy's grid system, with no need for on-site battery storage.  Due to existing and proposed topography and tree cover, significant portions of the solar energy system will be screened from view from both Sunwood Drive and Sunfish Lake Boulevard.  The Subject Property is both zoned and guided as Closed Landfill and solar energy systems are a permitted use in this zoning district.

Existing Natural Resources Information
The City's Natural Resources Inventory (NRI) identifies a couple of different native plant communities on the Subject Property as well as an altered/non-native wetland.  There is a high quality 'grassland with sparse deciduous trees' that clips the far northwest corner of the Subject Property.  The vast majority of this high quality native plant community is west of where the proposed solar array will be installed. However, one (1) bur oak and two (2) red pines will be removed, which are technically within the high quality native plant community.  The State of Minnesota actually developed a management plan for this high quality plant community, as it is actually one of the larger remnant oak savannas left in the county.  This plant community will be generally unaffected by this project, with only the three (3) aforementioned trees being removed.

There is also a moderate quality oak woodland-brushland native plant community in the southeast corner of the Subject Property.  This plant community appears to be outside the construction limits for the project and thus, should be left undisturbed.  In the very southeast corner of the Subject Property is a wetland, which also crosses over onto a city-owned parcel at the intersection of Sunfish Lake Boulevard and Sunwood Drive, which is categorized as an altered/non-native plant community.  This wetland area is outside the construction limits for this project as well, and therefore, should also be undisturbed as a result of this project.  Finally, there is a small wetland within the construction limits and, while it is not identified in the NRI as a native plant community, the solar array will be positioned around the wetland and the 16.5 foot wetland setback.

There are no floodplains on the Subject Property.

Tree Inventory and Preservation Plan
A tree inventory and preservation plan was submitted with the plan set.  The dominant tree species on site include eastern red cedar, red pine, cottonwood, and bur oak.  The project will result in the removal of approximately sixty-eight percent (68%) of the existing significant tree inches, which does comply with the tree preservation standards for Business and Industrial zoning districts.  Additionally, about two dozen smaller (DBH of 4 inches) red cedars will be transplanted to provide more screening of the solar array along Sunwood Drive.

Landscape Plan
A Landscape Plan was not submitted, nor are there any specific landscaping requirements for the Closed Landfill zoning district.  However, the submittal does include an Erosion and Sediment Control and Restoration Plan which indicates the entire site will be seeded with a Dry Prairie seed mix.  Furthermore, the Applicant has submitted a Vegetation Management Plan, prepared by Natural Resources Services, outlining the establishment and maintenance standards to ensure a viable prairie establishment.  Moreover, the chosen seed mix qualifies for the Habitat Friendly Solar status, which was developed by the Board of Water and Soil Resources.






 

All costs associated with this review are the Applicant's responsibility.

Staff recommends approving the natural resources aspects of this project.

Motion to recommend approval of the natural resources aspects of this Site Plan.