Oronoco drafts landscaping, solar and stormwater rules; council seeks clearer language

Councilors and staff reviewed a range of technical code sections covering landscaping standards, tree preservation, stormwater controls and solar energy rules.

On landscaping, members agreed any new landscaping requirements should apply to new development only and not be retroactive; staff said landscaping plans would be required with permits for new commercial or industrial construction. There was discussion about the word "shall" in the code; some councilors suggested clarifying whether the requirement is mandatory for new projects and confirmed that replacement of damaged plantings would be required as part of landscape plans.

The meeting also covered stormwater and curbing. Staff said stormwater management, ponding and grading plans will follow MPCA and engineering standards and will be enforced through building and grading permits; longer discussions were deferred to engineering specialists.

On solar, members debated whether to allow ground‑mounted systems. Some councilors favored limiting residential installations to roof‑mounted panels, while staff recommended keeping a conditional‑use path for larger ground systems and an exemption for small temporary panels (the draft exempts temporary ground panels under about 17 square feet). Councilors asked staff to tidy the definitions and the permitting language to distinguish temporary portable panels from permanent ground‑mounted arrays.

Staff will incorporate clarifications on where landscaping and tree‑preservation requirements apply, refine the temporary‑panel exemption language, and confirm enforcement pathways for damaged or abandoned installations.