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Council debates enforcement as solar-panel work continues despite moratorium
Summary
Bastrop council members and residents questioned why ground-mounted solar work continued in parts of the city after a moratorium; staff said activity so far has not crossed the line that would require permits but code and fire officials are monitoring the sites.
Bastrop city council members and residents raised concerns about active solar-panel work in several locations despite a city moratorium on certain solar installations.
The discussion centered on whether recent activity—concrete work and other site preparations behind properties on Louisiana/Rogers lanes—violated the moratorium. "We issued a moratorium back in March... they are still actively working," Councilmember (unnamed in transcript) said during the agenda-item discussion. Several residents also urged the council to take action to stop work they said had started in their neighborhood.
City staff — including the code enforcement officer and the fire chief — told council members they have been inspecting the sites. Rick Smith, representing the mayor's office, said inspections showed contractors had placed concrete forms and were making alterations but had not yet erected structures or installed mounted solar apparatus that would require permits. "The erection of structures, apparatus... is the trigger" for regulatory action, staff said, explaining that simple land use work (for example, laying concrete) may be allowed without a permit but installing mounted panels or permanent apparatus would trigger enforcement.
Council members asked whether written notices had been received. Staff confirmed the property owners and contractors had been notified of the moratorium and had received enforcement letters; code enforcement has been visiting the sites weekly. The councilwoman leading the item asked for clarity on next enforcement steps if crews install panels or otherwise go beyond ‘‘use of land’’ work.
No new ordinance or emergency lifting of the moratorium was adopted during the meeting; council members directed staff to continue monitoring and to notify the council if the work progresses to installation of permanent equipment or structures.
The discussion closed with staff and the fire chief remaining the primary points of contact for inspections and further action if the activity crosses into regulated construction.
