CITY OF ST. STEPHEN
INTERIM ORDINANCE DECLARING A MORATORIUM
ON THE CONSTRUCTION OR INSTALLATION OF SOLAR
PANELS, SOLAR FACILITIES, SOLAR GARDENS, WIND-
POWER SYSTEMS, WIND TURBINES OR WIND FARMS
WITHIN THE CITY OF ST. STEPHEN, MINNESOTA
WHEREAS, The City Council of the City of St. Stephen finds that to appropriately site solar panels, solar facilities, solar gardens, windpower systems, wind turbines or wind farms in an orderly manner compatible with varying land uses, sustainable development and the changing energy goals of the State of Minnesota, it is necessary to allow the City Council to review existing and proposed regulations and conduct a study of potential ordinance changes that may better achieve these goals.
The City Council further finds the public health, safety and welfare will best be served and protected if the status quo with respect to such solar and wind facilities is preserved until the City Council completes said study.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ST. STEPHEN HEREBY ORDAINS it is necessary to impose a moratorium on solar panels, solar facilities, solar gardens, wind-power systems, wind turbines or wind farms of any kind, to allow sufficient time for said study, to protect the enforcement of zoning regulations, and to protect the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of the City of St. Stephen.
The moratorium shall prohibit the construction or installation of all solar panels, solar facilities, solar gardens, wind-power systems, wind turbines, or wind farms of any kind within the City of St. Stephen. No conditional-use permits, building permits or other approvals for such facilities shall be issued by the City of St. Stephen during the moratorium.
The moratorium shall not apply to requests regarding such facilities already existing. The moratorium shall continue in full force and effect for (statute allows for no more than one year from the effective date). The City Council reserves the right to extend the effective period of this Interim Ordinance in accordance with Minnesota Statute Section 462.355, Subdivision 4.
This ordinance is adopted by the City Council of the City of St. Stephen on Nov. 1, 2017, and shall be effective upon publication.
/s/ Jeff Blenkush
Acting Mayor
/s/ Cris M Drais
City Clerk
Dated: Nov. 3, 2017
Publish: Nov. 10, 2017
