Applicant withdraws Columbia County solar-farm rezoning without prejudice after community questions

The Columbia County Board of Commissioners allowed withdrawal without prejudice of a rezoning application to permit a solar farm on two parcels after the applicant said it would take more time to respond to community questions about setbacks, visual impacts and safety.

Rom (C Tech Solar) asked the board to allow the withdrawal so the company could revise the proposal and address neighbors' concerns; the motion to allow withdrawal without prejudice carried. “We would just like a little bit more time to basically re-get our application back together and try to address those concerns,” Rom said.

Property owner A.B. Sharma, who told the board he had owned the parcel since 2007, said he supported a solar project to produce clean energy and lower costs. Several residents and neighboring property owners, however, urged caution and cited safety and environmental worries. Brenda Heidman told commissioners about a 2019 Nebraska hailstorm that damaged a 5.2-megawatt solar array and led to soil contamination concerns; she listed chemical compounds that she said are used in panels and warned of recycling and cleanup costs.

Heidman said panel damage and toxic releases are possible in Columbia County because of weather events, and she asked the board not to rezone land across from Patriot Park for a solar installation. The transcript records resident claims about chemicals used in certain panel technologies and worries about recycling costs, potential land contamination, and proximity to a creek and park.

Board members granted the withdrawal without prejudice, which allows the applicant to submit a revised application at a future date. County staff and commissioners noted the withdrawal preserves the applicant's right to reapply and gives the applicant time to compile additional technical and visual information for neighbors and the board.