Planning staff say solar land‑use code amendments nearly ready; moratorium could be extended as it expires next week

Planning staff told commissioners at a workshop they have been drafting amendments to the county land‑use code to govern solar energy generation and that the county’s moratorium on solar permits expires next week.

Steven, a county staff member, said planning and the planning commission’s comments have been combined into a staff edit that aims to regulate solar projects through existing zoning and special‑use/high‑impact permit tools rather than by adding highly prescriptive new code sections. He said the drafting is guided by the county’s comprehensive land‑use plan priorities—protecting private property rights and promoting agriculture—and that staff want to avoid rules so prescriptive they become quickly outdated as technology changes.

Staff said outstanding items include clarifying financial assurance and performance-bond language, coordinating with road and bridge processes, and final technical tweaks. They described two procedural options for the board as the moratorium deadline approaches: adopt the amendments after a public hearing or extend the moratorium for up to six months and continue drafting. Steven said staff could likely finish required coordination and present draft language for preliminary input by the end of the week but that public notice and a hearing will be required for any code amendments.

Commissioners discussed the option of noticing both actions—public hearing to consider an amendment and a potential moratorium extension—so the county preserves both options when meeting statutory notice requirements. No vote was taken at the workshop; staff said they would prepare public-notice language and return with recommendations.