Label
SolSmart Designation
Council Member Komives
Title
Submitting to the Toledo City Plan Commission a request for a review of the current municipal planning and zoning code as related to the use of solar energy and its components; authorizing a public hearing on any proposed text amendments which may result from the review; publication of said hearing; and declaring an emergency.
Body
SUMMARY & BACKGROUND:
WHEREAS, SolSmart is a national designation and no-cost technical assistance program designed to help local governments make it faster, easier, and more affordable for residents and businesses to "go solar;" and
WHEREAS, SolSmart National Designations recognize communities taking key steps in addressing local barriers to solar energy in land use, permitting, inspection and zoning processes; and
WHEREAS, the City desires to participate in the SolSmart National Designation program to support local efforts to utilize solar energy; and
WHEREAS, the national designations, which are given in Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum tiers, are earned through a point system based upon completion of certain prerequisites by local governments, beginning with a review of the municipal planning, land use and zoning code; and
WHEREAS, to initiate the process for the City of Toledo for a Bronze Designation, SolSmart has done a preliminary analysis of the City's planning and zoning code to assist the City's plan commission with its own review.
Summary
NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved by the Council of the City of Toledo:
SECTION 1. That the Toledo City Plan Commission is requested to conduct a review of zoning and land use requirements to identify restrictions that intentionally or unintentionally prohibit solar development and publish a staff report with the findings and proposed text amendments, if any.
SECTION 2. That upon completion of its review and staff report, the Toledo City Plan Commission shall set an appropriate h...
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