Resident urges enforcement of visual screening at Stratford solar facility after plantings fail

A resident with property near the Stratford solar facility told council the vegetative buffer along White Marsh Road has failed in multiple locations more than two years after planting and urged the city to use code remedies to require additional screening.

"If plantings fail to achieve visual screening within two years following installation, city may require at its sole discretion the installation of additional screening measures," said Shane Alexander, referencing the city code. He told council that many roadside screens are dead or stunted, leaving solar panels visible from the road.

Alexander said the southern end of the facility had mature trees that provide a continuous screen, but the roadside planting was inconsistent and in some places not maintained. He asked the city to consider measures such as screening fabric, slats in the fence, or other remedies authorized by code.

Council and staff reiterated that code allows the city to require supplemental screening if plantings fail; no immediate action or enforcement order was recorded at the meeting. Alexander said he and planning staff have been in contact and that the city previously discussed vegetation installations along the fence line.

Council members encouraged continued dialogue between staff and the resident and requested staff to follow up on whether the planted buffer has met the two-year screening standard in the ordinance.