[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6604543,"mediaKeyId","2987715-ac2ca48f9fedc71eeff42043c67ef678","parentId",2987715,"title","Planning commission debates solar farm size limits; staff to draft regulations","audioSeconds",881,"startMs",4200000,"endMs",5081000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2987715-ac2ca48f9fedc71eeff42043c67ef678&start=4200&end=5081","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2987715-ac2ca48f9fedc71eeff42043c67ef678/thumbnail_4200000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6604543/Shawnee-County/Kansas/Planning-commission-debates-solar-farm-size-limits-staff-to-draft-regulations","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6604543-4e2fb869f1c6c0645b0508d328b2ea28/orig.mp4?Expires=1770453065&Signature=YFH2oqaCQ2-ERPztAl5skMXoIEnmdPuKLPYqZbNXUmdwFWW4jDY3QLnEsvEa0xMEDO3alWtIVRk14oqAAV58YpPx0A950a6Lk4K6xslb5h8N-5BqVrfbdK~-SAz-9aSM~s79U7bPnehRb635RkrGC7MVmW5e-p18PQ9w-a2vxOrsI5Q8xA9zJADdB7z0XoeBOUDZiI-jReAyZtFTnN2WSc1WPwU~n9QE~~v~7XoVEZjghOX-yXfyOlr5JXWWMLrCiS0uS1TNzKSimpzmlSr57lQ8e0-eA8YEu2obBrSLPJ6l6TgKXZBXjds1gHDdkPAXsbB2p2XHGyc2LvtiV2jVSQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Shawnee County","date","2025-04-15T01:35:11.987Z","article","Shawnee County planning commissioners spent an extended April 14 work session discussing proposed regulations for solar energy conversion systems, focusing on parcel size, setbacks, decommissioning requirements and battery-storage safety. Commissioners gave staff direction to prepare draft regulations and signaled intent to ask the Board of County Commissioners to extend the county’s moratorium while rules are drafted and reviewed.

Joanie, planning staff, framed the trade-offs: smaller parcel caps make projects easier to site near homes but limit the ability to achieve a commercially viable one-megawatt installation; larger parcel caps allow utility-scale projects but increase potential impacts. \"The smaller the parcels are with solar energy conversion systems, then obviously you have fewer panels, arrays,\" Joanie said during the discussion. Commissioners debated limits ranging from 10–50 acres up to several hundred acres and discussed examples from neighboring counties.

Participants cited local and regional precedents. Staff noted a Shawnee County facility of roughly 13.6 acres and referenced FreeState and Evergy projects; commissioners and staff also reviewed other Kansas counties’ approaches — Sedgwick County’s small/medium/large definitions, Douglas County’s 1,000-acre threshold (with exceptions), and Harvey and Pottawatomie counties’ more restrictive limits. Commissioners discussed whether to treat solar primarily via conditional-use permits with guiding regulations or to write more prescriptive standards.

Key issues raised:
- Size and spacing: Commissioners discussed maximum project-area limits (50–80 acres suggested by several members) and larger upper bounds (200–300 acres) proposed by others. Staff said it would draft language based on a working concept of a 240-acre maximum and suggested a separation distance between project areas (staff discussed a two-mile buffer as an illustrative option).
- Setbacks and visibility: Commissioners favored clear setbacks from residences and structures; commissioners discussed grading setbacks by project size but recognized that variable standards could create legal challenges.
- Decommissioning and bonding: Commissioners and staff recommended a required decommissioning plan and bond so funds would be available to remove panels and restore land if a developer abandoned a site or panels reached end of life.
- Stormwater and roads: Public Works would require drainage reports for projects and the county may require road agreements if heavy construction traffic would affect local roads.
- Battery storage: Commissioners and fire officials expressed concern about lithium-ion battery fires and firefighting capacity; staff recommended treating storage separately and developing safety requirements or a moratorium on storage while standards are drafted.

Commissioners were divided on prescriptiveness. Some favored a relatively open framework with case-by-case review and a standard set of expected studies; others wanted clearer standards so applicants know upfront what studies and mitigations are required. Chad Gearhart repeatedly argued for fewer pre-conditions; other commissioners — including Terry Robinson and Jeanette Johnson — urged a defined set of expectations to limit legal uncertainty and community concern.

Procedural notes from the meeting: the commission voted 5-0 earlier in the evening to move public comment to after the solar discussion to accommodate an attendee, and Joanie said she would prepare draft regulations based on the discussion for the commission and for presentation to the Board of County Commissioners. Staff also said a moratorium-extension item could be placed on the commission’s May agenda to preserve time to draft regulations before the county’s current moratorium expires.

Next steps: planning staff will prepare draft regulations for review, including proposed maximum project size, setback standards, decommissioning and bonding requirements, and recommended spacing between projects; staff indicated it would treat battery storage rules separately and return to the commission with a draft to consider prior to briefing the BCC.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Shawnee County Kansas Planning Commission Meeting 2025/4/14","oneSentenceSummary","At an April 14 work session the Shawnee County Planning Commission directed staff to draft proposed regulations for solar energy conversion systems after an extended discussion on parcel-size caps, setbacks, decommissioning bonds and battery-storage risk.","taxTitle","Shawnee County, Kansas","taxId",2886,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6604547,"Planning commission recommends denial of rodeo event venue near Shawnee Heights",3152,999000,4151000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2987715-ac2ca48f9fedc71eeff42043c67ef678&start=999&end=4151","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2987715-ac2ca48f9fedc71eeff42043c67ef678/thumbnail_999000.jpg","/articles/6604547/Shawnee-County/Kansas/Planning-commission-recommends-denial-of-rodeo-event-venue-near-Shawnee-Heights","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6604547-94d4142ac9e0e00aaec0865025c6372f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770453065&Signature=aO-AhPTkaPHrZJK5mfCQuFS9fzJD0rYN6IF68ZQ2H~rR0Mpbt1pylQnJydPYyZhDD7dEV38XJ8XMQOb3ez8b6tBRzTXqAWNG~cJuBBDe6-taL0BRf1A~KqoQcLSDkFG0p8fB8164AUEKhDUHN4MYMyhDqNnvx4KsT6hzmG1m~ApuEvNkoUgYzwuL7kCJAit~CCfBBcOzjaFWkrPzgixQAtDSGWZn55Y5AjNEKzodKvX8FEl5rk7vmayAaInjjffOQmTezRbFdxX2JUQOIkyaIhcPnE2IXmQe-JNlItj7lRtZOAlsEVdVa~jNyuyldeLF66RosCQD1Fc2~AklIJJ0nQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Shawnee County Planning Commission on April 14 voted 5-0 to recommend denial of conditional-use permit CU 2404, which sought authorization for a rodeo event venue on property zoned RA-1 (Rural Agriculture) at 6320 Southeast 40 Fifth Street in Tecumseh Township.

Planning staff recommended denial after concluding the application did not satisfy the legal standards the commission must consider. Harim, the planner who prepared the staff report, told commissioners: \"Planning staff finds that not all concerns have been addressed, such as, 1, the traffic study... 2, the noise control... 3, landscaping... 4, security measures... 5, emergency services. And 6, emergency response plan.\" The commission’s motion to deny was made by Commissioner Chad Gearhart and seconded by Commissioner Dan Bridal; the roll call vote was 5-0 in favor of the recommendation to deny.

The commission record shows the proposal has been under review since June 10, 2023, with prior public hearings and multiple continuances. Staff said the applicant submitted updated materials late in the review cycle: an updated PowerPoint and business plan (filed Feb. 21), a stormwater report (filed Feb. 25), a revised site plan and a noise study. Planning staff and the county Public Works Department said the submissions did not resolve key outstanding issues.

Traffic safety was a central concern. Public Works flagged limited stopping sight distance on Southeast 40 Fifth Street and said lighting at the entrance would not address daytime sight-line problems. Staff recorded concern that the entrance sight distances as presented would not safely accommodate the applicant’s stated attendance estimate (staff cited up to 400 attendees in discussion of traffic queuing). Several nearby residents told the commission they experienced backups, missed turns and dangerous conditions during a recent event.

Neighbors and other commenters described noise and parking impacts. One neighbor said they measured 85 decibels at their house during a Saturday event and 75 decibels on Sunday; another said they could hear the band from more than a half-mile away. Commenters disputed whether the gatherings were private family events or public events; one resident said people were turning around in driveways and another said vehicles were paying at the gate. Commenters asked how the applicant would monitor and enforce sound levels at neighboring homes.

The applicant, identified in the hearing as Carolina, said some communications between the applicant’s consultants and county reviewers had not been shared with the applicant and that some requested follow-up information was not received in time to respond. Carolina said a family gathering held the prior weekend was private and that no money changed hands. She described plans for on-site equipment for routine site work and said animals for rodeo events would be brought in temporarily rather than kept on site.

Staff also told the commission it had not received a clear security plan or documented commitments from emergency-service providers and that the applicant had not supplied a usable emergency-response plan addressing incidents that could occur during an event (medical emergencies, fire, or severe weather). Staff said landscape measures alone would not materially mitigate noise and that proposed mitigations were inadequate for the levels reported by neighbors.

After discussion, Commissioners said they were sympathetic to the applicant’s aims but that the record did not provide the concrete, reviewed mitigation needed to support approval. The commission voted to recommend denial. The record and staff notice state the Planning Commission’s recommendation will be forwarded to the Board of County Commissioners for final action; the BCC hearing is scheduled for 2024-05-12 at 707 Southeast Quincy.

The Planning Commission hearing record will be part of the packet the Board of County Commissioners reviews; applicants retain the right to revise and refile, and staff noted additional information could be provided at the BCC stage or if the applicant chooses to return to the commission with further studies and documented agreements.","The Shawnee County Planning Commission voted 5-0 on April 14 to recommend denial of a conditional-use permit for a proposed rodeo event venue at 6320 Southeast 40 Fifth Street, citing unresolved traffic, noise and emergency-response concerns. The matter will be heard by the Board of County Commissioners on May 12, 2024.","actionData","errors"]

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Planning commission debates solar farm size limits; staff to draft regulations

Planning commission recommends denial of rodeo event venue near Shawnee Heights