State legislation enacted in 1978 requires local comprehensive plans to address solar access protection. The law requires that communities make efforts to ensure that direct sunlight access to solar panels is not subjected to shading from nearby trees, buildings or other structures. In the 1980s, energy prices and potential fuel shortages focused attention on both passive and active solar collection systems. Since that time, however, lower energy prices have diminished interest in active solar energy collection systems. While solar energy issues are seldom discussed during subdivision reviews today, it is possible that conditions will change in the future. Accordingly, the City of Hopkins will take the following measures to ensure protection of solar access where appropriate:
- Examine the existing Subdivision Ordinance to ensure that it adequately includes solar energy protection measures.
- The City will assist homeowners in finding information pertaining to design criteria for solar access.
- Consistent with State Statutes, the city will consider variances in circumstances where hardships are imposed because of the inability of structures to obtain direct sunlight for solar energy systems because of existing zoning and subdivision ordinance provisions.
