The Becker Twp. Board met Monday evening and once again the issue of solar energy dominated the discussion.
City of Becker Community Development Director Jacob Sanders started the discussion with an update on the committee’s work, outlining last week’s meeting as well as the results of last month’s Open House, which drew 11 citizens.
Sanders presented an updated map, still under development, that would indicate areas where panels would be permitted or prohibited across the city and township.
Sanders identified the next steps as setting the zoning perimeters and design standards, followed by adoption of the document into the Comp Plans for both entities, since these documents carry quasi-judicial power.
Twp. Supervisor Luke Babler, a member of the Solar Overlay committee, spoke next and outlined some of his concerns.
“I think we need to pull back a little bit . . . there’s too much purple (solar not allowed) on the map,” Babler stated. “These people pay their taxes . . . who am I to say that they can’t do something with their land? I don’t like solar personally, but I don’t like the government telling people what they can do.”
Sanders explained that from his point of view, the committee’s work is about balance and looking out for “all 15,000 residents” of the greater Becker community in a way that honors current, mid and long range planning.
Supervisor Brad Wilkening asked about property tax effects, wondering what the taxation differences are between current agricultural land, 2.5 acre developments and potential tax earnings from solar developments.
“Do we know what the property tax would be?” Wilkening asked.
Sanders stated that he could look into that issue more, while Twp. Clerk Lucinda Messman added that there would not only be an increase in property tax collection at solar farms, but also in a production tax that goes along with most solar developments.
Chair Brian Kolbinger, also a solar overlay committee member, noted that he sees the issue through the lens of protecting those who are currently farming.
“Solar is another type of farming,” Kolbinger said, “I would like to focus on the areas in the township where landowners are already farming.”
Babler stated that he wanted a few other items on the record, including that the original intent of the committee was not to necessarily prohibit the solar developments, but to put some rules in place about how they would need to be developed to blend in with the surroundings. In terms of the contaminant/pollution issue, he noted the irony of the situation since there is a major landfill sitting right across the highway.
“Also, the city needs to remember that they put in a solar farm right behind the waste water plant, right in people’s back yards,” Babler commented. “And now we tell others they cannot (do the same)?”
Sanders acknowledged the concerns and thanked the board for bringing them up now, rather when the committee’s work was completed. He pledged to set another meeting of the committee to continue the discussions.
“The public needs to know we are having these conversations,” concluded Kolbinger.
In Other Business, the Board:
• Heard from Sgt. Dan Frank regarding last month’s 178 calls for service, including eight car-deer collisions and 13 motor vehicle accidents due to excessive speed on the slippery road surface;
• Held a public hearing on Gapen Acres, 87th St., with no public comment; therefore, the board approved the metes and bounds split;
• Sent a favorable recommendation to the county for a building variance at Carefree Country Club, with a notation that a double permit fee will be charged because the project was started without a permit;
• Listened to Planner Ben Wikstrom’s update, which included a discussion on accessory dwelling structures and the current solar ordinance. A review of the Twp.’s Comp Plan will also get underway in 2023 since it has not been updated since 2014;
• Learned that the insurance claim appeal will have a hearing on January 18;
• Approved an annexation request for approximately 35 acres just west of the Savanna Village development, as well as the compost site and the dog park.
