Board approves conditional use permit for 10‑MW solar project with safeguards for glare, floodplain and agricultural use

Franklin County commissioners on May 7 granted a conditional use permit (CUP) to allow the construction and operation of a 10‑megawatt solar facility, subject to conditions addressing aviation glare, floodplain avoidance, agricultural use beneath panels and decommissioning.

The hearing began with a recusal/ex parte disclosure period. Commissioners reported receiving phone messages and news coverage before the meeting but said they had not engaged in substantive off‑record discussions about the permit. County planning staff noted a change to Condition 23 made during the planning‑commission review and told the board that the draft resolution had been reworded on the record to better reflect the intent without changing substantive outcomes.

Commissioners asked planning staff about glare and aviation safety because the site is adjacent to an active airport. Staff noted the record contains a preliminary glare report and that the applicant will provide an additional glare study during construction; any identified concerns would be addressed at that stage. Commissioners also inquired about floodplain and critical‑area issues; staff said final designs will place improvements outside the floodplain and include required mitigation measures coordinated with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife if needed.

A key land‑use detail: the project affects agricultural lands of long‑term commercial significance (ALTs/ALTECs). The CUP allows solar on those lands only where the applicant demonstrates continued agricultural use — in this case the applicant proposed grazing under arrays. Commissioners and the public were told the applicant plans to use sheep for grazing; the planning‑commission video and the applicant’s presentation included testimony from a shepherd describing grazing benefits and noting sheep do not typically damage wiring or panels. The board also received assurances that the lease is expected to be 35 years with an option to renew, and that the applicant stated it would remove equipment and restore farmland at term’s end.

Permit duration and conditions: the CUP is valid for up to one year from the board’s approval date, with a code option for a six‑month extension; if conditions cannot be met within that period the applicant must reapply. Commissioners directed attention to Condition 23 language regarding agricultural land categories and said they were satisfied with the revised wording on the record.

Action: A commissioner moved to approve Resolution 2025‑0143 as presented; the motion passed.