Sherburne County is in the process of getting its first solar farm.

 

But there are still problems with the county’s ordinance that have to be ironed out before the county board approves any solar farm project.

 

Last week, the board tabled a decision on an interim use permit (IUP) for a proposed 162-acre solar farm in Clear Lake Twp. on the Tom and Penny Hammer property just east of the Hwy. 24 and Co. Rd. 8 intersection.

 

Zoning Administrator Nancy Riddle said the applicant for the project, Sunrise Energy Ventures, wanted to amend the ordinance in case the operation was sold in the future.

 

“Under the current zoning ordinance, a conditional use permit (CUP) would generally go with the land. So if a landowner sells the property, that business can still continue,” said Riddle. “But with an IUP, those are written so that if there’s a transfer of the property they have to come in for a new permit.”

 

She said Sunrise Energy Ventures has applied to amend the ordinance.

 

Riddle said there was also an issue about restoring the site once the solar energy farm was no longer in operation.

 

“We need to figure out how much of an escrow we need for future decommissioning,” she said.

 

One issue that wasn’t addressed with the Clear Lake site was setbacks. That site is in a more rural area. But setbacks are a big issue for another proposed site on the border of Big Lake and Becker townships. That project, owned by Jim Sanford was tabled at last month’s planning and zoning meeting.

 

Tuesday, some property owners whose homes are near that proposed solar farm spoke to the board about their concerns.

 

Mark Wimmer, who lives on 170th Street in Becker Twp., said under the current ordinance, the setback for the solar farm could be as low as 50 feet. He said there are 16 parcels adjacent to the solar farm that would have it right in their backyard.

 

“I understand your job is to stimulate the tax revenue into Sherburne County and help keep property taxes down,” he said. “But there needs to be some safety net, some precaution, to keep these things going up next to homes that have been around 25 or 30 years.”

 

He suggested amending the ordinance to require a 500 foot setback. 

 

“We’re not here to stop them,” he said. “But to have a home in a rural district and then wake up one morning and there’s a proposed solar farm 50 feet away from you backyard is unconscionable.”

 

Joe Dockendorf, who lives on 199th Ave. in Big Lake Twp. is right next to the proposed solar farm.

 

He told the commissioners about an article that was written about a solar farm in Chisago County where there were “winners” and “losers.” 

 

“That project setback is 800 to 900 feet, and those residents feel like losers,” he said. 

 

Dockendorf said he’d also like the county’s ordinance to be amended so the setback was 500 feet.

 

“That’s about half of what they’re doing in Chisago, but we’d be thrilled with that,” he said.

 

He also requested the ordinance require more screening, with berms and cedar trees to set up a barrier between the solar farm and the homes.

 

“I don’t want to be able to see it and I don’t want to be able to hear it,” he said.

 

Dockendorf said the board had an obligation to the property owners and to ensure that the very first solar farm in the county is done right.

 

“The first solar farm that comes to our county should be in good taste,” he said.

 

Dean Leischow of Sunrise Energy Ventures said he was willing to work with the county and residents on screening.

 

“We’ve addressed all the screening requirements in the ordinance. We’ve talked with some of the individuals at the last meeting and invited them to meet with us to talk about what kind of screening would be appropriate, but they’ve continually declined to meet with us,” he said. “We’re prepared to put whatever is required in place such that the solar farm is completely screened.”

 

But he said the setback can’t be 500 feet. 

 

“Moving it back 500 feet just makes that particular property uneconomical if you’ve got to waste that much land that’s not producing anything,” he said.

 

He also said solar farms don’t make any discernable noise.

 

“The only noise is during the  construction for a couple of months,” he said.

 

Riddle said the planning commission will be discussing decommissioning escrows and reviewing the ordinance regarding IUPs at the February meeting. She said she didn’t know whether setbacks would be part of that discussion.