PUBLIC HEARING: Ramsey Landfill Solar Energy System Site Plan Review (Cedar Creek Energy)

Cedar Creek Energy (the Applicant) on behalf of Connexus Energy and the State of Minnesota has submitted an application for Site Plan Review for a 4.125 MW AC/5.66 MW DC ground mounted, single axis tracking solar photovoltaic array on an approximately 24-acre portion of the closed Ramsey Landfill grounds.  The array will be northwest of the intersection of Sunfish Lake Boulevard NW and Sunwood Drive NW, though not up on the landfill mound.  The site is zoned CL--Closed Landfill where solar energy systems are a permitted use subject to a formal site plan review by the Planning Commission and City Council.

Site
The site takes advantage of some natural, previously created, and new berms along the two adjacent roadways to provide screening.  These berms have established trees on them in many places.  A row of transplanted red cedar trees from the site will fill-in areas where the berms do not provide screening.  The site will be secured by a 7-foot tall galvanized woven-wire style fence that will allow small animals to pass through while keeping larger animals, like deer, out.  The site will have a gate on the south end for direct access to the site with a second gate to the north for pass-through ability, if needed by larger vehicles.  

System
The array will provide power directly into the existing transmission lines, so no batteries will be needed.  The system will provide energy during peak daylight hours.  There will be some mechanical and transformer equipment in the middle of the array.  A small residential-style shed will be located next to this equipment for storage of supplies for maintenance of the site.  

Existing Natural Resources Information
From the March 17 EPB meeting report, it was noted that 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.

The Applicant's Vegetation Management Plan is attached to this report.  It is their intent to keep the site as natural as possible.  


 

Mailed notices were sent to properties within 350 feet of the site.  A legal notice was placed in the March 14 Anoka Union Herald Newspaper.  A "proposed development" sign was placed at the site.  

Alternatives to Consider:
1.  Recommend approval of the Site Plan Review as recommended by staff.
2.  Recommend approval of the Site Plan Review with any modifications requested by the Planning Commission.
3.  Recommend denial of the Site Plan Review based on certain findings.  

Costs associated with this application are the responsibilty of the Applicant.

Staff recommends approval of the Site Plan Review.

Motion to recommend approval of Site Plan Review for a Solar Energy System on the Ramsey Landfill Property.