Council hears proposed overhaul of Davenport’s solar zoning; staff to return in June

Davenport City planning staff presented a comprehensive update to the city's solar ordinance at a management update, outlining a package of changes that would restrict where large "solar utility-scale" projects may be placed, add decommissioning and maintenance requirements, and create new safety setbacks for battery energy storage systems.

Laura, a community planner in the Community Planning department, told the council the moratorium was placed "in May with the purpose to allow staff time to review existing ordinances and draft any necessary amendments," and that the Plan and Zone Commission has recommended the proposed ordinance. She said the city is aiming to bring the ordinance back to council around June (staff referenced June 25 as an internal target) and that the moratorium was extended to that date to allow time for the alignment with the West Davenport land-use and infrastructure plan.

Why it matters: The rewrite would narrow where large solar farms can be sited as a principal use and increase the standards they must meet. Staff said they propose removing solar as a permitted principal use in commercial, office-park and…