HomeMy WebLinkAbout20152817.tiff MEMORANDUM
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r, I/ Fr --I I TO: Chris Gathman, Planning Services DATE: 07/15/15 mei L , FROM: Wayne Howard, P.E., Development Engineer
CO - N—Y
SUBJECT: USR15-0032, Silicon Ranch Severance
The Weld County Department of Planning Services-Engineering has reviewed this proposal. Staff
comments made during this phase of the application process may not be all-inclusive, as other issues
may arise during the remaining application process.
COMMENTS:
General Project Information/Location:
Applicant is requesting approval on a solar array farm
This project is south of and adjacent to SH 14 and is east of SH 257. Parcel number 070516100063.
Access is from CR 80.5.
Roads:
County Road 80.5 is a Gravel road and is designated on the Weld County Road Classification Plan as a
Local road, which requires 60 feet of right-of-way at full buildout. The applicant shall delineate on the plat
the existing right-of-way. If the existing right of way cannot be verified it shall be dedicated. All setbacks
shall be measured from the edge of future right-of-way. This road is maintained by Weld County.
Traffic:
No ADT is available in this area.
A traffic narrative was submitted with the application materials and indicated that there will be
approximately 8 vehicle trips/year post construction. During construction they anticipate 20 truck round
trips/day and 100 pickup round trips/day. Construction is expected to last up to 3 months.
Access:
An Access Permit application was submitted with the application materials. Public Works will review the
application and provide an access permit and permit number if approved. Questions concerning access
requirements can be directed to Public Works access permit division.
Entrance gates (if applicable) must be set back a minimum of 100 feet from edge of shoulder to allow a
truck with trailer or RV to pull completely off of the roadway and open the gate. In no case shall any
vehicle(s)stopped to open a gate be allowed to create a safety issue for roadway users.
Tracking Control:
Tracking control is required to prevent tracking from the site onto public roadways. Minimal standards are
listed below. Temporary Tracking Control shall be used during construction unless permanent tracking
control is installed ahead of construction activities.
Minimum requirement for all projects include 300ft of road base or recycled asphalt.
*Recycled concrete is not allowed in County ROW
**Tracking control devices can be double cattle guards or other specialized device
*** Tracking control for unmaintained public ROW is required just prior to entering publically maintained
roadways.
****Surface improvements less than 300 ft may be allowed if site constraints would prohibit meeting
condition.
Improvements and Road Maintenance Agreement:
No improvements agreement will be required as the anticipated traffic is less than 11 round truck trips/day
or 50 round passenger vehicle trips/day. A development standard will be applied to the recorded map
indicating any impacts to the road must be mitigated by the owner. There shall be no tracking from the
site onto publically maintained roads. The applicant is responsible for mitigation of any damage or offsite
tracking and upgrading and/or maintaining onsite tracking control.
Drainage Requirements:
Detention or Water Quality: Storm Drainage Guidance and related documents (COC, WQCV Calc.,
WCECC, etc.) for the information described below can be found on the County Website at
http://www.co.weld.co.us/Departments/PlanningZoninq/Engineerinq.html. Please contact
Department of Planning Services/Development Review Engineering for questions or assistance
970-353-6100.
The applicant has provided a signed and stamped letter from a Professional Engineer analyzing the
change in imperviousness for the entire property and the full drainage report with detention might be
waived if the impacts on adjacent properties and roadways can be shown to be insignificant (rule of
thumb is 10% or less overall site imperviousness with no increased downstream impacts). A water quality
narrative and depression could be considered instead of a drainage report and detention pond.
Based upon the current proposed drainage code changes that will become effective 8/17/2015, water
quality ponds will no longer be a requirement for sites granted a drainage report and detention pond
waiver. The applicant may continue using the water quality ponds as designed or they may consider
removing them from their site plan.
Grading Permit
A Weld County Grading Permit will be required if disturbing more than 1 acre. Grading Permit
applications are accepted after the planning process is complete (map recorded). An Early Release
Request Form may be entertained only after the applicant and Planning Department have reviewed the
referral and surrounding property owner comments. The Early Release Request may or may not be
granted depending on referral comments and surrounding property owner concerns. Contact a
Engineering representative from the Planning Department for more information.
A Construction Stormwater Permit is also required with the State for disturbing more than 1 acre. Contact:
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Water Quality Control Division, Rik Gay, 303-
692-3575.
CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL:
A. The map shall be amended to delineate the following:
1. Show and label the approved access(es), turning radii, and access permit number(s) on the map.
(Department of Public Works)
2. Show and label a tracking control device and a minimum of 300ft of recycled asphalt or road base
on the map. (Planning-Engineering)
Prior to Construction:
A. The approved access and tracking control shall be constructed prior to on-site construction.
(Planning-Engineering)
B. If more than one (1) acre is to be disturbed, a Weld County Grading Permit will be required.
(Planning-Engineering)
DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS (NOTES ON THE SITE MAP)
1. Should noxious weeds exist on the property or become established as a result of the proposed
development, the applicant/landowner shall be responsible for controlling the noxious weeds,
pursuant to Chapter 15, Articles I and II, of the Weld County Code. (Planning-Engineering)
2. The owner is responsible for mitigation of any impacts to the road including damages and/or offsite
tracking. The owner is responsible for upgrading and/or maintaining onsite tracking control. (Planning
and Engineering)
3. There shall be no parking or staging of vehicles on public roads. On-site parking shall be utilized.
(Department of Public Works)
4. The historical flow patterns and runoff amounts will be maintained on the site. (Planning-Engineering)
Abe
MEMORANDUM
1
���■Ii j\ TO: CHRIS GATHMAN, PLANNING SERVICES
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TT, l FROM: LAUREN LIGHT, ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
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SUBJECT: USR15-0032
DATE: JULY 6, 2015
Environmental Health Services has reviewed this proposal for a Site Specific Development Plan
and Use by Special Review Permit for any Use permitted as a Use by Right, an Accessory Use,
or a Use by Special Review in the Commercial or Industrial Zone Districts, (solar array farm)
provided that the property is not a lot in an approved or recorded subdivision plat or lots parts of
a map or plan filed prior to adoption of any regulations controlling subdivisions in the A
(Agricultural) Zone District.
As no employees will be located at the site, permanent water and sewer is not required.
Portable toilets, hand washing units and bottled water can be utilized during construction.
We have no objections to the proposal; however, we do recommend that the following
requirements are incorporated into the permit as development standards:
1. All liquid and solid wastes (as defined in the Solid Wastes Disposal Sites and Facilities
Act, 30-20-100.5, C.R.S.) shall be stored and removed for final disposal in a manner that
protects against surface and groundwater contamination.
2. No permanent disposal of wastes shall be permitted at this site. This is not meant to
include those wastes specifically excluded from the definition of a solid waste in the
Solid Wastes Disposal Sites and Facilities Act, 30-20-100.5, C.R.S.
3. Waste materials shall be handled, stored, and disposed in a manner that controls
fugitive dust, fugitive particulate emissions, blowing debris, and other potential nuisance
conditions. The facility shall operate in accordance with Chapter 14, Article 1 of the Weld
County Code.
4. Fugitive dust should attempt to be confined on the property. Uses on the property
should comply with the Colorado Air Quality Commission's air quality regulations.
5. The operation shall comply with all applicable rules and regulations of State and Federal
agencies and the Weld County Code.
Tisa Juanicorena LL$t 5-OOEL
From: Dennis Harmon < dharmon@wtrsupply.com >
Sent: Monday, August 24, 2015 1:41 PM
To: Chris Gathman; Tisa Juanicorena
Subject: Comment on Silicon Ranch - Carey Solar Array project
8-24- 15
Chris:
Good talking to you today...Please note that we have for the first time seen the site plan for the Silicon Ranch-Carey
Solar Array Project which lies adjacent to the Larimer County Canal. That canal is owned by Water Supply & Storage
Company, see my contact information below. We would like to request that the easement for the ditch on the site plan
be widened to a width of 50' on either side of the ditch, measured from the high water mark on each side, so that it
becomes of record at Weld County when the new plan is approved and files. The is the customary width we request for
the ditch which has a prescriptive easement.
For your information, the Company owns the Larimer County Canal which feeds several large lateral ditches, also in
Weld County, including the Pierce Lateral, the Collins Lateral, the Lonetree Lateral and Lonetree Overflow, the Cross Cut
Lateral, The Mead Lateral, the Hayden Lateral, the Lakeside Lateral and the Good Lateral. While we don't own or
operate the laterals, our shareholders do and we can provide an avenue of communication, if needed, for those.
If you have questions, please contact me at your convenience.
Dennis
Dennis J. Harmon, General Manager
Water Supply & Storage Co.
2319 E. Mulberry St.
Fort Collins, CO 80524
1
P.O. Box 2017
Fort Collins, CO 80522-2017 dharmon@wtrsupply.com
970-482-3433
970-443-1855 (cell phone)
970-482-1486 (fax)
2
June 17, 2015
Kristine Ranslem
Planning Technician
Weld County Planning Department
1555 N 17th Ave
Greeley, CO 80631
Via email: kranslem@co.weld.co.us
RE: Silicon Ranch Solar Array
Dear Kristine:
Thank you for the opportunity to review USR15-0032 for the Silicon Ranch Solar Array.
This property is within the Severance Growth Management Area and is adjacent to
properties that have already been annexed to the Town of Severance, and would be
considered by the Town as a good candidate for annexation.
This property is shown on the Town's Comprehensive Land Use Map as part of what the
Town calls a "Development Node". The land uses allowed within a development node
are very flexible. A "solar array" is not named but could be made compatible with the
allowed uses.
Severance would welcome this property to pursue annexation and development within
the Town. If the applicant would like to discuss the possibilities of annexation please have
them contact me or Nick Wharton, Assistant Town Administrator at 970-686-1218.
This project is in proximity to developments within the Town of Severance so I will be
forwarding the application materials to the Severance Town Engineer, adjacent
developments and the Saddler Ridge Metropolitan District so that they are aware of the
project and can offer additional comments as they see fit.
Cordially,
TOWN OF SEVERANCE
Jim Birdsall, ASLA, RLA
Town Planner
3 S.Timber Ridge Parkway,Severance, CO 80550
970.686.1218
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