Baldwin County commissioners adopt six-month solar moratorium, authorize CDBG application for Oconee Heights revitalization

The Baldwin County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to adopt a six-month moratorium on solar projects and to authorize an application to the Georgia Department of Community Affairs for a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) to support water, sewer and housing work in the Oconee Heights revitalization area.

The moratorium, described during the meeting as lasting “for a period not to exceed 6 months or until you all enact an amendment to the solar energy development ordinance, whichever occurs first,” was read into the record by Carlos, a county staff member handling the item. Commissioners voted in favor without recorded opposition; Miss Davis was recorded as the affirmative vote and the chair stated the motion carried unanimously.

The CDBG authorization covers a multi-activity grant the county is preparing to submit to the Georgia Department of Community Affairs. Carlos told the board the county adopted an urban redevelopment plan last year and has prepared a revitalization area strategy covering Oconee Heights. He described the CDBG target area as including South Elbert, South Jefferson, Edwards and Barnes streets and said the county has three years to execute the revitalization strategy if the grant is awarded.

Carlos said the 2025 CDBG application is due April 4 and that, if awarded, the county expects to spend roughly $900,000 on sewer work and $350,000 on housing. He identified two addresses that would be reconstructed if the grant is awarded: 118 Barnes and 1494 South Elbert; he said those houses are “complete teardowns.” Habitat for Humanity would build the replacement houses for the county if funded, Carlos said. He also said sewer work in the area is largely in wooded sections and that a separate RAISE grant will fund water-line replacement.

Why it matters: the moratorium pauses new solar-energy development approvals while county staff and commissioners consider ordinance changes and liability questions, including who would bear costs for panel removal in the future. The CDBG application, if successful, would fund sewer repairs and two housing rebuilds and is intended to support the county’s urban redevelopment and revitalization strategy for Oconee Heights.

Votes at a glance - Resolution enacting six-month moratorium on solar energy development: motion carried unanimously; Miss Davis recorded as affirmative; no recorded opposition. - Resolution authorizing submission of CDBG application to Georgia Department of Community Affairs for water, sewer and housing in Oconee Heights: motion carried unanimously; no recorded opposition.

The board also reviewed timelines: the CDBG application is due April 4; the county said it will apply annually under the program and must deliver annually if awarded. Staff said several homeowners from the 2024 CDBG grant will sign construction paperwork this week to begin that work.