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Planning Board pushes Xcel to improve screening, consider photovoltaics and employee amenities
Summary
During the concept review for Xcel Energy’s North 63rd Street service center, board members praised the project’s operations upgrade but urged stronger perimeter screening, attractive fence design if taller height is approved, greater on‑site photovoltaics and usable shaded open space for employees. Several members said those elements should be addressed before annexation and site review.
Multiple Planning Board members told Xcel Energy’s team they support modernizing the service center but want more attention paid to visual screening, the fence design and renewable energy features.
Kurt Nordback said the fence-height modification can be appropriate for this industrial site and endorsed higher‑quality, non‑climb materials: "I think that a taller and more industrial feeling fence is appropriate." Other members said they favored photovoltaics on covered parking and rooftops and asked that open‑space calculations favor activated, usable areas—shade structures and picnic seating rather than paths alone. Staff and the applicant agreed to carry these comments into the next submittal.
