With a number of solar energy corporations approaching property homeowners and searching for tax breaks to find in Jefferson County, commissioners not too long ago reviewed zoning adjustments that supposed to guard the worth of neighboring properties.
A not too long ago proposed solar energy assortment facility land use ordinance addresses anti-glare, establishes a minimal lot measurement, requires particular setbacks and buffers to be in space, scale back gentle air pollution and usually attempt to scale back visibility of such services from close by highways and residences.
Over the previous two months the county planning and zoning board has reworked its ordinance and not too long ago advisable adjustments that had been reviewed by the fee throughout its June assembly.
The ordinance requires that future photo voltaic assortment services be on a lot of a minimum of 10 acres. This doesn’t embody services to be put in in an present or proposed constructing.
The fee voted 3 to 2 to vary the proposed minimal setbacks from 250 ft to 100 ft.
The ordinance additionally states that “no construction shall exceed a top of greater than 25 ft, besides poles and overhead wiring.” However, this doesn’t embody any roof-mounted photo voltaic assortment methods.
All energy traces in ground-mounted photo voltaic methods have to be positioned underground, excluding present utilities and every facility have to be managed by a fence at the least six ft excessive.
The ordinance additionally requires that “inside all perimeter setbacks, 100% screening shall be maintained to stop the view of photo voltaic assortment gear and buildings. Any present, naturally undisturbed vegetative buffer shall be left If there isn’t a vegetative screening, planting bushes and different vegetative screening needs to be put in.
Zoning would require that this buffer be established and maintained all through the lifetime of the undertaking. All lighting needs to be directed downwards every time attainable to cut back gentle air pollution.
In earlier discussions the members of the county fee and growth authority expressed issues about what might occur if for some cause these tasks fail or shut and who’s caught cleansing the panels.
The proposed ordinance requires builders to submit a decommissioning plan that features a elimination plan in addition to plans for recycling or in any other case reusing all supplies which are moderately practicable to take action. of this in addition to an anticipated timeline for elimination.
As a part of the decommissioning, the proposed ordinance additionally requires a restoration plan “to revive the property to its situation previous to the set up of the SES or to a different situation moderately appropriate for the designated use of the land after the elimination of SES.”
The ordinance may also require a bond or letter of credit score to cowl the price of elimination and demolition and the restoration of the property earlier than the county points a certificates of occupancy for the undertaking.
Where Jefferson County is positioned in photo voltaic
The Development Authority of Jefferson County (DAJC) met in June to debate its place on photo voltaic tasks and ensure they align with the desires and plans of county commissioners.
“We have a serious undertaking (NextEra) that’s nearly able to be carried out within the southern finish of the county,” stated DAJC Chairman Bill Easterlin. “And now we have many different tasks going round, trying to get land choices to hire or purchase what’s above the market value for agricultural land. In our final assembly with the Development Authority we had two photo voltaic undertaking that’s important in measurement. The DAJC on the time voted to not grant advert valorem tax reduction to new tasks, preferring to attend till we received steering from the county commissioners.
At the time the county voted to assist offering incentives as much as 2.1 p.c of the county’s whole land. However, the DAJC has determined to cease providing extra incentives till the planning and zoning fee completes this ordinance and it may be authorised and authorised by the county.
The second studying and last adoption of the ordinance is anticipated to happen on the July 9 common county assembly.
