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Prince Edward supervisors to seek public feedback on comp-plan land-use chapter with stricter siting guidance for solar, nuclear and battery storage
Summary
Staff reported the county's comprehensive-plan update is nearing completion and proposed community open houses before further planning-commission work; new draft language tightens siting guidelines for utility-scale solar, nuclear and battery storage facilities.
Prince Edward County staff told the Board of Supervisors that the county's comprehensive-plan update is moving toward public review and recommended holding community open houses before reconvening with the planning commission.
Staff said draft chapters were prepared using community input from an online survey, two community workshops and six focus groups. The land-use chapter is in its final review stage and includes new, more prescriptive language about siting utility-scale solar, nuclear and battery storage facilities. Proposed draft guidelines would, among other measures, prefer siting facilities within 1 mile of existing transmission corridors, keep facilities at least 1 mile from the Sandy River Reservoir and Appomattox River where possible, avoid dense residential areas, encourage use of brownfield sites, and require substantial screening and a 150-foot vegetative buffer to reduce ground-level visibility from adjacent properties and rights-of-way.
Other proposed criteria call for avoiding areas with high agricultural suitability (Class 4 or 5 soils as determined by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation), protecting forest conservation areas and ecological cores, incorporating wildlife corridors into design, siting panels on contiguous parcels to limit fragmentation, and maintaining a minimum two-mile separation between utility-scale facilities of the same type. The draft also suggests facilities demonstrate maximum local economic benefit through an economic analysis and that emergency-service training and best-management practices be provided for nuclear or other facilities requiring cooling water access.
Board members discussed whether to hold another joint work session with the planning commission before public meetings. Staff recommended taking the draft to a public open house first to gather community feedback and then returning to a joint work session with the planning commission; the board agreed to proceed with a public meeting before scheduling additional planning-commission discussion.
No vote or formal adoption occurred; staff said public open-house dates will be advertised once confirmed and all comments collected will be shared with the planning commission and board during a final joint work session prior to public hearings and any final decision.
