Special City Commission Meeting - July 15, 2024: Adoption of Solar Utility Ordinances
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Special City Commission Meeting - July 15, 2024: Adoption of Solar Utility Ordinances
The Sarasota City Commission held a special meeting on July 15, 2024, at 5:30 PM to conduct second public hearings and adopt two ordinances related to solar utilities. The ordinances amend the Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Code to allow solar utilities as a permitted use in the Production-Intensive Commercial future land use classification and in the Industrial General (IGD) and Industrial Heavy (IHD) zone districts. The Commission unanimously approved both ordinances on second reading.
Discussion Items
- Ordinance No. 24-5525 (Comprehensive Plan Amendment): This ordinance revises the text of the Production-Intensive Commercial Future Land Use Classification to identify solar utilities as an additional existing and planned primary use and provides a definition of "solar utility." The first reading was held on July 1, 2024, with unanimous approval. No changes were made to the ordinance since the first reading.
- Ordinance No. 24-5523 (Zoning Code Amendment): This ordinance adds definitions for "solar utility," "glare," and "glint"; adds solar utility as a permitted use in the IGD and IHD zone districts; and establishes development standards for solar utilities, including bicycle parking, transitional buffers, landscaping, and additional use standards. The first reading was also on July 1, 2024, with unanimous approval. No changes were made since.
- Presentation by David Smith: Manager of Long-Range Planning David Smith presented a brief overview, noting that staff proposes to allow both terrestrial (ground-based) and floating solar facilities. He clarified that the amendments apply to larger utility facilities, not rooftop solar for individual buildings, which is covered elsewhere in the code. He also mentioned a scheduled meeting with the Vice Mayor regarding edits to backup material, not the adopted text.
- Planning Board Recommendation: The Planning Board recommended approval of both amendments.
- Commissioner Questions: Commissioner Trice asked whether ground-based includes rooftop. Mr. Smith clarified that rooftop solar for a specific building is covered under a separate section of the code, and the solar utility designation is for larger utility-scale facilities.
Key Outcomes
- Ordinance No. 24-5525: Adopted on second reading by a vote of 5-0. Motion by Commissioner Arroyo, seconded by Commissioner Battie.
- Ordinance No. 24-5523: Adopted on second reading by a vote of 5-0. Motion by Commissioner Arroyo, seconded by Commissioner Trice.
- The meeting adjourned at 5:41 PM.
Note: The agenda and minutes list "glare and glint" as the added definitions; the transcript incorrectly says "glare and glant." The correct terms are from the official documents.
Meeting Transcript
Okay, go ahead. You good. Okay. Actually, I'll there is all right. All right, I want to call this uh special city commission meeting to order. It's July fifteenth, twenty twenty four. And um we'll have the city auditor and clerk do the invocation. Um large audience and the crowd in the audience. Yes. We seek your divine strength, wisdom, and guidance in the deliberations that affect the lives of each other citizens of our community in the name we pray, amen. Okay. And um, please leave us under the pledge of pleasure. I'm not even sure. Are there any changes to the order of the day? No, madam mayor. All right, thank you. And if you want to read the pledge of public conduct, yes. We may disagree, but we will be respectful to one another. We will direct all comments to issues. We will not engage in personal attacks. All right. So do we have anybody signed up to speak? No, madam mayor. Okay. All right. So we're at agenda item two one. And that is the uh second public hearing regarding the proposed ordinance number 24525. Um and I'm gonna call upon the city auditor and clerk to read the title. And also to um, I'm sorry, let's do an oath. Do you swore or affirmate the evidence or factual representation which you are about to give or present to this commission during any public hearing held this 15th day of July 2024 at Truthful? Yes. Thank you. And then I'll go ahead and read the opening. Okay. All right. I'm gonna open the public hearing and have you read the title of the proposed ordinance. Okay. Ordinance number two four-five-five two five in ordinance of the city of Sarasota, Florida, amending the comprehensive plan of the city of Sarasota, the Sarasota City Plan, future land use chapter to revise the text of the production intensive commercial future land use classification so as to identify solar utilities as an additional existing and planned primary use within the classification and to provide a definition of solar utility, repealing ordinances in conflict, providing for serverability of the parts hereof, providing for reading by title only, and providing for an effective date. Okay. Um these ones we could combine, Mr. Farnier, or no. Uh well, from they're both dealing with the solar utility. We can waive the vote last time. We've already received it. I thought we did. Yeah. Okay. All right. So I'm also going to open the public hearing then on proposed ordinance number two four five five two three and have the city auditor and clerk read that. Thank you.
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