Foothills Solar and Substation

Transcription

1 CITY OF LOVELAND Foothills Solar and Substation SPECIAL REVIEW NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING, DECEMBER 17, 2015

2 Neighborhood Meeting Outline Welcome and Introductions Purpose of the meeting General Description and Background Solar and Substation Project Next Steps - Special Review Process Questions CITY OF LOVELAND

3 Property Location and Proposal 52 acres purchased by the City Power Department in April 2015 Property rezone to Developing Resources in November Special Review for solar field and substation use.

4 Meeting Purpose Provide information about the project Answer questions and understand neighborhood comments Special Review is an administrative process and does not require a Planning Commission or City Council hearing unless appealed. CITY OF LOVELAND

5 Where We Have Been September 10 th Neighborhood Meeting Attended by 99 citizens September 28 th Planning Commission Meeting Rezoning approved by Planning Commission 5-3 October 6 th -12 th Home Owner Association Meetings Attended by 63 citizens October 20 th City Council Meeting Rezoning unanimously approved by Council December 1 st City Council Meeting Solar contractor notice of award unanimously approved by Council December 3 rd -8 th Home Owner Association Meetings Attended by 51 citizens

6 Accomplishments Since Sept. FEMA approval received Solar contract approved Began environmental process for the site Revision of renderings based on your feedback Received feedback and then presented plan options to: Hunter s Run Oct 12 th & Dec 3rd Quail Run Oct 6 th & Dec 7 th Meadowbrook Ridge Oct 7 th & Dec 8 th

7 Voting Results Solar Options Options 1 st Choice 2 nd Choice Option #1 Higher berm and more landscaping Option #2 Black wrought iron fence around the south perimeter along 22 nd Street Option #3 Grey wrought iron fence around the south perimeter along 22 nd Street 75% 16% 17% 22% 8% 63%

8 Voting Results Substation Options Options 1 st Choice 2 nd Choice Option #1 Higher berm and more landscaping Option #2 Decorative art wall on east substation wall along Rio Blanco Option #3 Stone veneer wall on east substation wall along Rio Blanco 94% 39% 2% 18% 4% 43%

9 Projected Timeline

10 Environmental Update These projects are covered by FEMA s Programmatic Evaluation Assessment (PEA) for compliance with NEPA. The City must satisfy all items on FEMA s Utilities PEA Checklist. Major Checklist Categories Land Use Changes Impacts to Transportation Facilities Impacts to Cultural Resources Impacts to Water Resources Impacts to Biological Resources Mitigation Short term losses of vegetation will be mitigated with vegetative stabilization methods Relocating utilities farther away from waterways adds resiliency No historic properties are affected (SHPO concurs with this) Wetlands and drainage are outside of construction area No potential for PMJM, Ute Ladies Tresses, CO Butterfly Plant. Surveys performed for MBTA, Rattlesnake and Big Game No significant findings on Utilities PEA Checklist

11 Site Plan for Solar Park and Substation 2.4 acre substation with vegetative buffer and berming 19 acre solar facility with vegetative buffer and berming Community educational opportunity

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14 7 foot galvanized chain link fence Increased height of earth berm which is partially obscuring fence 25% of plantings will be of upsized height/caliper Landscaping is illustrated as it will look on day one Quantity of plantings above the City-standards No additional time required for design and construction Approximately $20,000- $30,000 additional cost

15 Standard CMU block wall Earth berm is partially obscuring the wall 25% of plantings will be of upsized height/caliper Landscaping is illustrated as it will look on day one Quantity of plantings above the City-standards No additional time required for design and construction Approximately $15,000- $20,000 additional cost

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18 Next Steps Special Review Plans Administrative Process does not require public hearings unless through an appeal process Preliminary Findings available on January 5 th Comment period January 6-14th Final Findings available on January 18 th Appeal Period ends on January 28 th CITY OF LOVELAND

19 CITY OF LOVELAND Questions and Comments Kerri Burchett, Principal Planner (970) Gretchen Stanford, Customer Relations Manager (970) Gretchen.