HomeMy WebLinkAboutRIVERSIDE COMMUNITY SOLAR GARDEN - PDP - PDP140013 - REPORTS - PLANNING OBJECTIVESClean Energy Collective, LLC - Riverside Solar Project - Statement of Planning Objectives
Statement of Planning Objectives
Item (d) in PDP Submittal List
i) Statement of appropriate City Plan Principles and Policies achieved by the proposed plan.
a. The Riverside Community Solar project touches on all three themes of the Plan Fort
Collins vision: Innovate, Sustain, and Connect. Developing a community solar array
allows for citizens to buy panels in the project and participate in an innovative project to
make sustainable and renewable power accessible to more people in the community.
b. The Community Solar project addresses aspects in the City Plan in at least 4 of the 7
chapters: Economic Health, Environmental Health, Community and Neighborhood
Livability, and High Performing Community.
i. Economic Health: Community owned solar projects allow for larger arrays to be
built in an optimal location and then sold to residents and businesses at an
affordable rate. This coupled with the generous rebate offered by the City
makes purchase in the solar array available to a more broad section of the
community.
ii. Environmental Health: Development of community owned solar meets the
visions of: Integration of renewable energy and new technologies for the
electric grid, Leadership on environmental matters, Conservation of resources,
and Improvements in air quality.
iii. Community and Neighborhood Livability: the project helps to support ensuring
there is adequate public infrastructure for existing and new growth, attractive
community image and identity, and a new element to be considered in the
design of gateways.
iv. High Performing Community: the community solar brings both technology and
fiscal responsibility by helping citizens save money on utilities through investing
in a centrally located solar array.
ii) Description of proposed open space, wetlands, natural habitats and features, landscaping,
circulation, transition areas, and associated buffering on site and in the general vicinity of
the project.
a. No open space is included in this project.
b. Wetlands are not impacted.
c. Natural habitat and features: one tree may have to be removed for the access drive.
This will be confirmed with the Water Reclamation staff and the City Forester. Other
features will not be affected.
d. Landscaping will need to be discussed as a development agreement with Environmental
Planning. Depending on what accommodations should be allowed for future Art in
Public Places needs, landscaping may occur adjacent to the western edge fence line.
Mowing and mechanical cutting will occur inside the solar array to keep vegetation
below 2 feet to avoid shading of the solar panels. Revegetation will be implemented as
needed post construction. Landscaping and revegetation will follow recommendations
made in the Ecological Characterization Study by Cedar Creek Associates, Inc.
e. Circulation: there will be one access drive for construction purposes (approximately 2
months) and then it will be used for maintenance (mowing and annual inspection).
f. Transition areas: NA
Clean Energy Collective, LLC - Riverside Solar Project - Statement of Planning Objectives
g. Buffering: similar to landscaping, the site buffering from adjacent properties will be
discussed with the Environmental Planner as a development agreement and be sure to
accommodate for art in public places or other needs.
iii) Statement of proposed ownership and maintenance of public and private open space areas;
applicant’s intentions with regard to future ownership of all or portions of the project
development plan.
a. The land is owned by the City of Fort Collins and the solar array portion will be leased by
CEC Solar 1038, LLC. CEC Solar 1038, LLC will maintain the leased area. At the end of the
lease term, the lease may renew or the array will be removed and site returned to pre-
construction conditions.
iv) Estimate of number of employees for business, commercial, and industrial uses.
a. The construction will employ a crew of 8 for 8 weeks, but there will not be employees
associated with the site after construction. One employee will perform one annual
inspection and/or maintenance as required.
v) Description of rationale behind the assumptions and choices made by the applicant: NA
vi) The applicant shall submit as evidence of successful completion of the applicable criteria,
the completed documents pursuant to these regulations for each proposed use. The
Planning Director may require, or the applicant may choose to submit, evidence that is
beyond what is required in that section. Any variance from the criteria shall be described.
OK
vii) Narrative description of how conflicts between land uses or disturbances to wetlands,
natural habitats and features and or wildlife are being avoided to the maximum extent
feasible or are mitigated.
a. The fencing of the array will be situated as tight to the array space as possible to leave
as much land for wildlife movement as possible. The ground surface disturbed by
construction will be returned to its original state by reseeding and monitoring. Grading
and ground disturbance will be kept to a minimum. Earth work will be kept to a
minimum and completed as quickly as possible.
viii) Written narrative addressing each concern/issue raised at the neighborhood meeting, if a
meeting has been held.
a. A neighborhood meeting was held and notes were taken by city staff. These notes are
attached as a separate file. Concerns have been or will be addressed as a part of the
development plan process.
ix) Name of the project as well as any previous name the project may have had during
Conceptual Review.
a. Riverside Community Solar Project
b. Fort Collins Community Solar Garden Project