APC recommends against county council's proposed property-value guarantee for solar projects (text amendment APC 3067-25)

The St. Joseph County Area Plan Commission voted 5 to 3 to send an unfavorable recommendation to the county council on a council-initiated text amendment to the county zoning code that would add a property-value guarantee for solar energy systems (APC 3067-25). The amendment, as submitted by the county council, would apply to solar projects of any size in every zoning district and require the project developer to provide a surety bond equal to the assessed value of all nonparticipating properties within a three-mile radius.

APC staff summarized the proposed requirements. "First, it states that [the] property value guarantee would apply to properties within 3 miles of any solar energy system," Area Plan Commission staff Fariel Sharif said. The proposed amendment also requires signed agreements between the solar developer and each affected property owner before permits would be issued;…