(A) Application for WECS shall be reviewed and processed in accordance with the conditional use permit procedures established in § 154.016 of this chapter.
(B) The following information is required in addition to the information required for a site plan or conditional use permit application.
(1) The application for all WECS shall include the following information:
(a) The names of project applicant;
(b) The name of the project owner;
(c) The legal description and address of the project;
(d) A description of the project including: number, type, name plate generating capacity, tower height, rotor diameter and total height of all wind turbines and means of interconnecting with the electrical grid;
(e) Property survey, including the location of property lines, wind turbines, electrical wires, interconnection points with the electrical grid and all related accessory structures. The site layout shall include distances and be drawn to scale;
(f) Evidence that the applicant can obtain and maintain adequate liability insurance for the WECS and subject property;
(g) Engineer’s certification;
(h) Documentation of land ownership or legal control of the property;
(i) Decommissioning plan as required in § 154.121 of this chapter;
(j) A noise study, prepared by a qualified professional or WECS provider, that demonstrates that, except for intermittent episodes, the WECS shall not emit noise in excess of the limits established in Minn. Rules part 7030 governing noise and §§ 90.20 through 90.26 of this code of ordinances, as applicable; and
(k) A shadow flicker model that demonstrates that shadow flicker shall not fall on, or in, any existing residential structure. Shadow flicker expected to fall on a roadway or a portion of a residentially zoned property may be acceptable if the flicker does not exceed 30 hours per year; and the flicker will fall more than 100 feet from an existing residence; or the traffic volumes are less than 500 vehicles (ADT). The shadow flicker model shall:
1. Map and describe with a 1,000-foot radius of the proposed dispersed wind energy system the topography, existing residences and location of their windows, location of other structures, wind speeds and directions, existing vegetation and roadways. The model shall represent the most probable scenarios of wind constancy, sunshine constancy and wind directions and speed;
2. Calculate the locations of shadow flicker caused by the proposed project and the expected durations of the flicker at these locations, calculate the total number of hours per year of flicker at all locations; and
3. Identify problem areas where shadow flicker will interfere with existing or future residences and roadways and describe proposed mitigation measures, including, but not limited to, a change in siting of the WECS, a change in the operation of the WECS or grading or landscaping mitigation measures.
(2) The application for all WECS, except WECS equal or less than five kw in total name plate generating capacity, shall also include:
(a) The latitude and longitude of individual wind turbines. A USGS topographical map, or map with similar data, of the project site including boundaries of the project area, surrounding property within one-quarter mile and any other WECS within ten rotor diameters of the proposed project;
(b) Location of wetlands, scenic and natural areas (including bluffs) within one mile of the proposed WECS;
(c) FAA permit application;
(d) Location of all known communications towers within two miles of the proposed project. Provide proof that the WECS will not interfere with emergency or other microwave transmission; and
(e) Description of potential impacts on nearby WECS and wind resources on adjacent properties.
(3) Aggregated projects may jointly submit a single application and be reviewed under joint proceedings, including notices, hearings, reviews and as appropriate, approvals. Permits will be issued and recorded separately. All aggregated projects over the five MW threshold currently outlined in state statute are subject to state regulation.
(2002 Code, § 7.43) (Ord. 83, Sixth Series, effective 3-30-2008; Ord. 85, Sixth Series, effective 7-30-2008; Ord. 32, Seventh Series, effective 8-8-2015)