Planning staff told supervisors on June 12 that an applicant seeking to build a solar array on land on Bruce Road cannot proceed under the parcel’s current rural-residential zoning and must pursue rezoning or a special exception.

The staff member said the applicant proposed two potential solar sites: one about 30 acres under panels (estimated to generate about 3 megawatts) and another about 40 acres under panels (estimated close to 5 megawatts). The parcel is part of a larger tract with historic easements (variously described in county records as about 314–316 acres). The applicant had told staff he had contacted the National Trust for Historic Preservation, but the planning office had not seen written evidence of that contact.

Staff said the county’s zoning map showed the parcel as rural residential and that zoning “does not allow for solar” under current rules. The planner advised that the applicant needs the correct zoning before the county can consider a special exception for a solar operation. The planner also reported that the planning commission recently denied other development proposals where the commission wanted development concentrated closer to towns with infrastructure.

Supervisors and staff discussed visibility from nearby roads, buffering and the parcel’s long history of agricultural use. A staff member said there is a local easement referenced as Agnew Farm and that the county’s records show a continuous historic agricultural use, which can complicate zoning grandfathering rules: staff noted that continuity of the historic use affects whether the county can claim a nonconforming use exception.

No formal application was approved; supervisors were informed of the procedural steps the applicant must take to move forward: (1) obtain rezoning to a district that allows utility-scale solar or apply for a special exception where allowed, (2) provide documentation of consultations with historic-preservation entities (the applicant said he had contacted the National Trust), and (3) provide site plans and buffers for review by staff and the planning commission.

The planning staff said it would follow established public-notice procedures for any rezoning or exception request and that the applicant remains responsible for fulfilling any easement or historic-preservation requirements.

Supervisors did not take formal action; staff recommended the applicant be told to pursue the rezoning/process required by the county.