HomeMy WebLinkAboutWATERGLEN SOLAR ARRAY - PDP190010 - SUBMITTAL DOCUMENTS - ROUND 1 - PROJECT NARRATIVEWaterglen Solar Array Project Narrative
Conceptual Review Meeting 6/7/18
Informal Neighborhood Meeting 7/11/18
Formal Neighborhood Meeting 2/13/19
Project Location: Waterglen PUD, Parcel #8704106001
Project Type: 210kW-DC Small Scale Ground Mounted Solar Array
Tied into City of Fort Collins Solar Power Purchase Program (SP3)
Project Size: 210kW-DC, 591 Solar Panels, 11,000 Sqft
Facility Area: 28,887 Sqft
Existing Zoning: LMN
Owners: Sandbox Solar LLC
28,887 Sq Ft. of Land to be leased from Front Range Water LLC ℅ LK Crumb
Neighborhood Meeting Comments:
The solar array will participate in the City’s solar power purchase program (SP3). City enters
into an agreement with the solar company for 20 years for all the energy that is produced from
the solar facility. The City Attorney’s office creates this legal contract (PPA) as well as an
Interconnection Agreement (IA) that stipulates that the system operate according to the Utility’s
Interconnection Standards which ensure power quality and operational standards. The solar
array will be connected to the grid and the utility pays the developer/owner every month based
upon the kilowatt hours (kWh) generated. This will continue for the duration of the PPA. Note
that the solar system will be interconnected to the grid near Waterglen, and just as water flows
through a pipe, electricity from the solar generation system will be flowing to and benefitting the
nearest electric consumers. There will be no new electric lines from panels to homes.
The pathway around the parkway will still be accessible to everyone and the solar array will not
restrict access. A decommission plan is in place to remove the panels after 20 years. Fencing
will be 5’ required by the City of Fort Collins and be constructed using similar split rail fencing
design. A request to provide bee and pollinator friendly habitat by the community during the
informal meeting July 2018 will be provided in order to also meet the City’s landscaping
requirements. The project is outside of easements and floodways. The project is within the
floodplain but will be raised above the flood elevations. Minor roadway expansion is required to
meet Poudre Fire Authority access standards. The expansion is located within an existing utility
easement. The roadway passes through Waterglen HOA and Trailhead HOA property. Letters
of Intent to allow access and construction are provided in this application. An Ecological
Characterization Study has been completed to identify that the project does not negatively
impact existing wetland and habitat.
Design Description:
The solar array is to be located on the west side of the Waterglen PUD. Vehicles and
pedestrians currently access the canal road that goes around the perimeter of the property. This
access will not be affected after the installation. The access road from Greenfields Dr to the site
will need minor expansion in order to accomodate PFA access standards. This expansion will
maintain within the existing utility easement and not alter or encroach other properties. A
hammerhead will enter the array from the easement to the Waterglen PUD property to allow for
fire access and maintenance access. A 5’ fence will surround the entire solar array for
protection and security. This fencing will include a gate at the hammerhead entrance point. The
fencing is intended to match a split-rail type fencing in the area and be secured with mesh
wiring to satisfy safety and longevity standards. 2 cottonwood trees (~15” dia) are planned to be
impacted by the construction of the array, Sandbox Solar will replace theses trees with equal
value on the property. No major habitat such as wetland areas will be impacted by the array. A
mix of Fort Collins approved vegetation and native species will be planted around the fence of
the solar array to break up the visual impact and integrate it with the landscape. The vegetation
will provide pollinator friendly habitat and are selected for low watering maintenance. The
property is currently already irrigated and the plants will use the runoff and left over irrigation
that occurs within the area.
The solar array is fix tilted and driven into the ground via helical piers. These helical piers cause
less soil and hydraulic disturbance, and provide an easy means of decommissioning the array
after its life cycle. The solar panels are all black and minimize glare in order to meet federal
aviation standards. The array will be include 8 rows of fix tilted panels at 13’ spacing. There will
be approximately 591 solar panels making up 210 kW-DC. The panels will take up an area of
6,900 square feet. With fencing requirements the area will take up 28,887 square feet. The solar
panels will be tilted south at 30 degrees in order to maximize solar production and space. The
Max height of the array is about 7.5’ tall.
Habitat Avoidance Description:
Existing and proposed access roads will be used for heavy equipment and access to the site. 2
trees are in the way for access or construction of the site. These trees will be replaced with
equal value per the City’s Forestry Department. The solar array is located more than 100’ of any
notable habitat such as wetlands and there is no need or possibility to affect these areas.
Buffering Description:
A mix of Fort Collins approved vegetation and native species will be planted around the fence of
the solar array to break up the visual impact and integrate it with the landscape. The vegetation
will provide pollinator friendly habitat and are selected for low watering maintenance. The
property is currently already irrigated and the plants will use the runoff and left over irrigation
that occurs within the area. Further landscape details are located in the landscaping plan. A 5’
fence will surround the entire solar array for protection and security. This fencing will include a
gate at the hammerhead entrance point. The fencing is intended to match a split-rail type
fencing in the area and be secured with mesh wiring to satisfy safety and longevity standards.
Scheduling:
Event Expected Start Date
Expected
Completion Date
Expected
Time
(Weeks)
Obtain City's Updated Base Flood
Elevations 1/18/2019
Finalize Pad Location and Array Elevations 1/23/2019
Meet with Planning Dept & Poudre Fire
Authority 2/8/19
Neighborhood Meeting 2/13/2019
Make Final Revisions/ Final Comments 2/27/2019
Submit to Planning and Building for Formal
Project Review 7/31/2019 3
Public Hearing 8/21/2019 9/4/2019 2
Final Plan Review (Submit - Final) 9/4/2019 9/25/2019 3
Building Permits (Submit - Receive) 9/25/2019 10/16/2019 3
Procure Equipment 10/2/2019 11/6/2019 5
Widen Access Road Base 10/18/2019 11/1/2019 2
Construction - Boring, Electrical 10/19/2019 11/2/2019 2
Construction - Piers & Racking 11/6/2019 11/20/2019 2
Construction - Modules & Inverter 11/20/2019 12/4/2019 2
Commission and Test PV 12/4/2019 12/5/2019 0.25
Construction - Fencing, Security, etc. 11/20/2019 12/4/2019 2
Landscaping 11/20/2019 11/27/2019 1
Inspection, Approval, PTO 12/4/2019 12/11/2019 1