Planning and Zoning Commission fails to approve Gateway Trail solar farm conditional use permit

The Clay County Planning and Zoning Commission on April 1 failed to approve a conditional use permit for a proposed 20-megawatt commercial solar farm on property owned by Roy and Sherry Sams at approximately 12222 N. Highway.

Commissioners did not adopt the motion to approve the request for case April25-109CUP; the motion to approve with staff conditions failed on a roll call vote. The application will still be considered by the County Commission on April 24, staff said.

The proposal, filed by Gateway Trail Solar LLC and presented by Michael McHugh of Solis Renewables, called for an array sited on a portion of a roughly 210-acre parcel, with about 70 acres in the leased area and the solar array footprint described in materials as roughly 11 acres. McHugh said the project is designed as a 20-megawatt system that he estimated would supply the equivalent of about 2,300 homes and represents about a $50 million investment.

"These projects generate local American jobs," McHugh said, adding the developer expects about 80 construction workers over a nine-month build and long-term operations jobs. He pointed to lease payments to the Sams family and a potential tax agreement as county benefits, saying a 40-year example in the applicant's materials illustrated roughly $1.4 million in property taxes over the term, most of which would go to the school district.

The applicant submitted a packet of studies, including a…