Planning commission recommends disapproval of proposed Columbia Road solar farm

The Columbia County Planning Commission on June 5 voted to recommend disapproval of a rezoning application that would convert two parcels along Columbia Road from Planned Unit Development to S-1 to permit a proposed solar farm.

Daniel (planning staff) told the commission the sites are currently undeveloped land that had been reserved for townhomes, commercial and professional uses in the approved PUD. Staff said the parcels have steep topography and a stream at the southern end, and that the applicant’s plan showed a minimum 50-foot setback and a 25-foot buffer in places. "As far as county code is concerned, a solar farm is essentially a major utility ... we typically would require larger buffers," Daniel said, and staff recommended disapproval.

Property owner GB Sharma, who said he purchased the parcels in 2007, told the commission that development has proved cost-prohibitive and urged approval so the land would pay taxes and host a project he characterized as contributing to cleaner energy. "I have paid more than a million dollars only on interest on this property," Sharma said. The project proponent presented technical materials showing Georgia Power hosting capacity for an interconnection and said the planned contract length would be 35 years with a decommissioning period at the end of that term.

Many nearby residents testified in opposition. Donald Taylor of Orchard Trail said the parcels are in a residential area and warned rezoning to accommodate an industrial-style solar installation would lower property values. Paige Rivera, a Bartram Trail resident, said neighbors chose the area for its planned residential character and cited proximity to planned sports facilities and small businesses as incompatible with a solar farm. Danielle Abel, a nearby resident, submitted a petition and raised concerns about runoff, wildlife impacts, debris during storms and aesthetic effects on views from adjacent neighborhoods.

One commentator raised a national-security point: Patrick Duncan said Department of Energy investigations have identified problematic undocumented components in some imported inverters and batteries and urged the county to require U.S.-made critical equipment and contractor warranties. The applicant's technical representative, Warren Kritko, said project plans already include using U.S.-made inverters for critical infrastructure and that typical maintenance is limited; he also described the Georgia Power procurement and interconnection process. "It's 35 years," Kritko said of the planned contract term, adding that the developer would remove the array during a decommissioning period at contract end.

After public comment and discussion, a commissioner moved to recommend disapproval of RZ25-0606; the motion carried by show of hands. The Planning Commission's recommendation will be forwarded to the Columbia County Board of Commissioners for final action.