MEETING MINUTES
Date Description & Time Location Meeting Status

TOWN OF DUNKIRK

Planning Commission Minutes

 

 

 

August 11, 2021

Dunkirk Town Hall, 654 County Highway N

7:00 p.m.                                                              

 

Bill Delehanty called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.

 

Members present:   Shelly Schieldt, Bill Delehanty, Brett Olson, Brad Werginz and Mark Asleson. 

 

Other people present:    Norm Monsen, Ted Olson.  See the sign-in sheet for others present.

 

With regard to the July 14, 2021 minutes, Schieldt made a motion to approve the minutes.  Werginz seconded.  Motion carried 5-0.    

 

Unfinished Business

 

1.         Discussion and necessary action on solar energy ordinance.

2.         Olson initiated the discussion by reading the bullet point line items created by the sub-committee at the 8/5/21 meeting.  A copy of these bullet points are attached to these minutes for reference.

a.         Asleson provided a copy of the Town of Fulton Solar Energy Ordinance, which is attached to these minutes for reference.

b.         Casey Burns shared the Town of Fulton’s approach on project bonding, which allocated funds for future decommissioning of the solar energy site.  A lump sum was determined for the cost of decommissioning and a bond was provided by the owner.  This bond gets reviewed annually and increases at a rate to match inflation.

c.         A revision to the setback requirement in the sub-committee notes was suggested, to occur from property line in lieu of buildings.

d.         Delehanty suggested language regarding drive easement setbacks.

e.         Casey Burns noted Town of Fulton passing a solar energy ordinance on 8/2/21.  Casey noted that a lot of the legwork has already been completed in this ordinance, and would be a good reference for creating Town of Dunkirk ordinance.

f.          Norm Monsen stated appreciation to the sub-committee for efforts and ideas on ordinance bullet points.

g.         Changes in property tax bases was questioned.  Appropriate tax would be determined based on property.

h.         Olson suggested a reduction in development rights for properties used for solar energy.  One split per 10 acres of development was suggested.

i.          Sequence of adoption of the ordinance was discussed.  Town Board would pass ordinance first, and then referenced into the Town’s land use plan.

j.          Ordinance can be considered at first week of September Town Board meeting, after legal review.

k.         Olson scheduled a second sub-committee meeting on 8/19/21 @ 7:00 am, to review sample ordinances and update line items to include in ordinance for attorney review.

3.         Olson motioned to recommend to the Town Board, adoption of a Solar Energy System ordinance incorporating the Town of Springfield, Town of Fulton, and Sub-Committee bullet points.  Language is to be reviewed and compiled by Town Attorney.  Ordinance to be open for editing prior to adoption.

            -Shieldt seconded.  Motion carried 5-0.

 

New Business:

 

1.  Any pre-application conferences.    

 

Ben Stanger attended 7/14/21 plan commission meeting:

Delehanty noted email communication with Ben Stanger regarding potential plans to purchase the property at 871 US HWY 51 and operate a food waste composting operation. 

Bill read email correspondence aloud, in which Stanger noted some complications with acquiring the property but was still pursuing the proposed plans.

  

Delehanty stated the next meeting is September 8, 2021, starting at 7:00 p.m.

 

Olson moved to adjourn the meeting.  Aselson seconded the motion.  The motion carried 5-0.  The meeting adjourned at 8:00 p.m.

 

 

Minutes submitted by

Bradley Werginz, Commission Member

 

Attachments:  

Meeting Agenda

Attendee Sign-In Forms

Town of Fulton Sample Ordinance

Solar Ordinance Sub-Committee Notes