Council approves amended solar permitting process after removing moratorium language

Council returned CB 59-2026 (solar collector facilities temporary hold) from the table, considered a set of amendments, and approved the main motion after removing unenforceable moratorium language. The sponsor explained that moratorium provisions were preempted at the state level and therefore were removed; the amended approach requires an interagency meeting, a required Agriculture Board meeting, and a DPZ-hosted public meeting that will produce a report for the council and county executive. As the sponsor summarized, "Amendment 1 removes the moratorium language" (David Youngman), and the final enrolled bill retains procedural safeguards and shortened DPZ reporting timelines.