(A) General. All new subdivisions shall be designed so that the maximum number of buildings shall receive sunlight sufficient for using solar energy systems for space, water or industrial process heating or cooling.
(B) Manual. For purposes of design, the city will provide a manual outlining design criteria for solar access. The criteria shall also be used by the city in making staff reviews of each new subdivision.
(C) Street and lot orientation.
(1) Each proposed subdivision shall require a minimum of 50% of solar lots or lots that have a north-south orientation.
(2) To provide increased opportunity for south orientation of structures, streets shall be designed running in east/west directions and lots designed on a north/south axis. This provision shall apply where conditions reasonably warrant the design.
(D) Compliance. The Planning Commission may recommend to the Council that specific solar standards by modified under the following circumstances.
(1) The topography of the site is unsuitable for purposes of compliance with some or all of the solar standards.
(2) Compliance with some or all of the solar standards would adversely affect the natural features of the area being proposed for development.
(3) Other design techniques such as clustering in a suitable means of achieving more efficient solar orientation and access.
(4) Other designs that may be more suitable or energy efficient are proposed in lieu of, or in combination with, solar energy systems or solar structures.
(Ord. passed 1-23-2001) Penalty, see § 153.999