Chino Valley planning commission forwards utility-scale solar ordinance to council after hours of public comment

The Planning and Zoning Commission for the Town of Chino Valley voted 5-1 on Jan. 7 to forward text amendment TA 2024-04 — a proposed revision to Chapter 4 of the Chino Valley Unified Development Ordinance that would set siting, design, environmental and decommissioning standards for utility-scale solar projects — to the Town Council with a recommendation of approval as amended at the meeting.

The ordinance would not approve any specific project. Will Dingey, assistant director for development services, told the commission the text amendment “is not a request for a zone change. This is not a project approval.” Dingey said the draft ordinance establishes the “ground rules and the project requirements if a utility scale solar project were to come into the Town of Chino Valley limits.”

The item drew more than two dozen public speakers. Many residents raised concerns about groundwater, dust, views, wildlife and fire risk, while representatives of the solar industry and their counsel urged that the town adopt clear rules that would allow responsible projects to be proposed.

The commission’s action forwards the ordinance as presented by staff and “as amended at this meeting.” Commissioners polled during discussion indicated majority support for increasing a proposed separation distance for solar panels and equipment from developed residential property; staff and commissioners discussed rewording setbacks and deleting a related separation clause so the ordinance would instead treat certain distances as a minimum buffer measured from project equipment to neighboring property lines. The motion to forward the text amendment passed on a roll-call vote: Commissioners Welker, Pen (yes), Zamudio (yes), Meadors (yes), Vice Chair Paiszak (yes) and Chair Merritt (no). The motion carried.

Why it matters: the ordinance would create the town’s first comprehensive set of standards for siting utility-scale solar inside incorporated Chino Valley and would govern application review, required technical reports, environmental protections, and decommissioning or surety requirements. Commission and public debate focused on several provisions that would affect whether and where projects could be feasible inside town limits.

Key provisions and staff changes

- Scope and process: The draft ordinance creates a two-step Solar Facility Use…