WORKSHOP ITEM - Bryan Schafer, Planning and Community Development Director
Title
AVEDA SOLAR PROJECT
Background
Aveda Corporation has submitted a concept plan for ground mounted solar generation. They have also researched the possibility of a significant roof mounted system but have decided to pursue the ground mounted as it is slightly more efficient and does not interfere with other roof mounted mechanical systems and changes on the roof that might come in the future. Lastly they have enough unused land that is large enough to make the system work economically.
The system would be placed on the parcel located at the intersection of Lexington Avenue and Pheasant Ridge Parkway. This open property, just under 6 acres, is zoned Planned Business District and could be used for either industrial, office or retail development, however Aveda, and their parent company Estee Lauder, have preferred to not see it developed. They now feel that solar at this location, while meeting a portion of their own energy needs, would also be a visible demonstration of their commitment to clean energy and the environment.
The specifics of this project would be similar in many ways to the Connexus Solar project proposed in 2017; however this is at a much smaller scale with a proposed generation of 1 Megawatt versus the 5.5 Megawatts proposed by Connexus. The other major difference is that there is not any residential uses adjacent to this proposed site.
The project site would be secured by a decorative fence and finished on the inside with a pollinator friendly plant cover.
If the City Council is amenable to moving forward with this, proposal staff envision a fairly simple code amendment to the PBD zoning text allowing ground mounted solar as an accessory use with CUP (Conditional Use Permit). Staff do not expect multiple requests for ground mounted solar (particularly at this scale) from other PBD sites since most other sites are generally fully developed.
Setbacks and other project related specifics would be regulated by the CUP process and resolution.
...Recommendation
Provide direction to staff as to whether the City Council is supportive of the Aveda proposal and a code amendment to the PBD to allow a CUP to be processed.