T-R PHOTO BY ROBERT MAHARRY McFarland Clinic Executive Director of Facilities Management Ron Frantzen, center, addresses the Marshalltown city council about a proposed zoning ordinance change that will allow ground solar arrays in areas zoned as Public Institutions during Monday night’s meeting. Looking on are Planning and Zoning Commission Chairman Jon Boston, left, and Councilor Mark Mitchell, right.

A topic that has come up frequently at city council and Planning and Zoning Commission meetings throughout 2024 returned to the agenda Monday night as the council passed the first reading of an ordinance amendment that would pave the way for ground solar arrays to be permitted on properties zoned as Public Institutions (PI) such as medical facilities and schools.

Back in July, the council voted 5-1 (Gary Thompson was the lone dissenter) to ban such arrays on commercial and residential land within city limits after complaints were raised about two large units installed on rental properties owned by All American Property Management. As he stepped forward to the podium on Monday, P&Z Commission Chairman Jon Boston explained that leaders at McFarland Clinic had requested a change to allow ground solar arrays by special use permit in areas zoned PI, and the council would also be voting on the rest of the changes the commission has recommended, including regulations for home-based businesses and swimming pools.

Boston broke down the changes section by section, noting that fueling stations would no longer be allowed in portions of the Urban Core (UC) Zoning District encompassed by the Historic District Overlay, On the issue of ground solar issue, if the PI area is within 300 feet of a residential structure, the institution seeking to install an array would need to get permission from the occupants or owners.

“If it’s over 300 feet away, with a special use permit, they can go ahead and do it. We don’t think this will impact very many properties. For example, (with) the hospital, the college and McFarland, there isn’t any residential anywhere within 300 feet. But if you look at, for example, the Veterans Home, there is in some parts of the Veterans Home property,” Boston said.

He also said the buffering requirement around ground solar panels included shade trees, which “made no sense whatsoever,” and the language in the new ordinance also allows for a privacy fence in case the owners don’t wish to maintain plants. Councilor Gary Thompson asked for clarification on the home-based business requirement related to employees who do not live at the property, and fellow Councilor Jeff Schneider wondered what the backstory on not allowing any employees who did not live on the premises to assist with businesses in the past.

“I think we had a problem with a couple of businesses where it said one employee, and they were wanting to bring in two half-time employees. And then a couple of them were kind of abusing it. I think neighbors got upset because they were parking in the street, and we kind of wanted them to park in the driveway,” Boston said. “I don’t remember all the details. It’s been too long ago, but it was something like that.”

Councilor Melisa Fonseca sought further clarification on the requirement to ask neighboring property owners for permission if an array is within 300 feet and asked Boston to provide examples of the PI areas. He reiterated that ground solar arrays will remain prohibited on residential and commercial properties within the city but can be installed on agricultural and industrial land.

Thompson asked if Boston would like to see the process “sped up” and broached the possibility of waiving additional readings, and he responded that he didn’t see anything controversial in the changes. Ron Frantzen of McFarland Clinic then came to the podium to explain that they are trying to move quickly on their project because of concerns about new tariffs potentially being implemented once President Elect Donald Trump takes office in January.

“Our goal is to try to get, as soon as we can get council approval and a permit, we want to get the items ordered. The electrical switch gear that we need is 36 weeks out before we can even see it. Solar panels are about that same time,” Frantzen said. “If we’re lucky, we may have a system operational by October of 2025 at this point.”

The sooner contracts can be signed, he added, the better chance McFarland will have of avoiding having to pay any future tariffs. Councilor Mark Mitchell asked Frantzen where the panels would be manufactured, and he said they would come from China or Taiwan.

“We’ve looked at trying to get as much U.S. product made. We’re buying all the steel for the racking U.S. made, but we just simply can’t get past where the actual components are made,” he said.

Boston commented that even after the ordinance takes effect, McFarland would still need to go through the special use permit process, which generally takes about a month. Marshalltown Area Chamber of Commerce President/CEO John Hall also offered his support for the change and the McFarland project, describing the healthcare provider as being “swept up” in the moratorium put into place as a result of “unfortunate” ground arrays in residential areas.

“This process had been going and has taken a little longer, but as I think you’ve seen, we are very fortunate to have such a committed health partner in our community that is willing to continually invest in their property,” Hall said.

He added that UnityPoint Health and the Iowa Valley Community College District had submitted letters of support for the change. The council then voted unanimously to approve the first reading, and Mayor Joel Greer suggested waiving subsequent readings. City Clerk Alicia Hunter, however, corrected him and said a public hearing would still need to be held at the next meeting before the new ordinance could take effect.

uncil:

• Approved the consent agenda as listed, with one item pulled for further discussion.

• Moved the next city council meeting from Monday, Dec. 23, to Friday, Dec. 20 at noon.

• Approved an urban renewal plan amendment and an amended economic development support agreement with the Marshalltown Central Business District (MCBD) that will provide an additional $100,000 in funding for safety and security grants and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance.

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Contact Robert Maharry at 641-753-6611 ext. 255 or

rmaharry@timesrepublican.com.