Board of Zoning Appeals approved 2 MW Federalsburg solar project; planning commission to see site plan

County staff reported that the Board of Zoning Appeals unanimously approved a special‑use exception (number 23‑0044) for a small‑scale commercial solar energy system proposed by Shaberton Solar (Javal, LLC). The permitted project is for a 2‑megawatt installation on a 63.3‑acre parcel on Clark Canning House Road in Federalsburg that will contain a roughly 22.7‑acre solar array.

Staff said the BZA imposed no additional special requirements on the project. Because the project required only the local special‑use process rather than a state Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity, the project will next come to the Planning and Zoning Commission for preliminary site‑plan review and subsequent final site‑plan approvals as required.

Staff noted other small solar projects have followed similar paths: some projects that do not exceed state thresholds are reviewed by the BZA and then routed to the planning commission for site plan. Commissioners were told they will see the Shaberton Solar application when the developer submits the site plan for review.