Council reviews solar code amendments, extends moratorium through Feb. 12 unless code adopted earlier

The Davenport City Council discussed proposed amendments to the city's solar code on Nov. 4 after the Plan & Zone Commission recommended approval. "The commission has unanimously recommended approval for the ordinance amendments that are before you for solar," Laura (staff member) told the council.

The proposed draft removes the term "solar farm" and instead treats large installations as solar utility-scale uses that would be allowed only in specific zoning districts and subject to special-use review. "We're going away from that term solar farm," Laura said, adding that the amendment would be "a more restrictive approach to solar." The draft narrows the districts where such utilities could be sited; staff said some districts that previously permitted large solar would no longer do so.

Council members pressed staff for details about how the changes would work in practice and about the effect of a moratorium the city currently has in place. Laura explained the existing moratorium expires Nov. 14 and the draft before council would extend it to Feb. 12, 2026, but the moratorium would lapse earlier if the council adopts the new code before that date. "The moratorium's in place in order to adopt amended code or until February 12, whichever comes first," she said.

Several council members voiced concern about shifting approvals to a special-use process handled by another board. "I too have concerns with special use permits because the council's not the one voting on them," Alderman Dunn said, arguing that the change could remove direct council oversight of large projects.

No ordinance was adopted at the Nov. 4 meeting. Staff presented the amendments for review and asked council members to direct any questions to staff before the measure returns on future cycles. If adopted, the code changes would alter terminology and replace some previous permitted uses with special-use review requirements.