Sundance Solar Project Draws Extensive Public Comment; Planning Commission Continues Hearing to April 16

The Planning Commission opened a combined major 10-41 permit and Special Use by Review (SUR) public hearing April 15 for the Sundance Solar project, a proposal by Sundance Solar LLC / Cypress Creek Renewables to construct up to 74.9 megawatts of solar generation with 50 megawatts (4-hour) of battery energy storage on land east of Kiowa Bennett Road and south of County Road 154. After a lengthy staff presentation, developer remarks and more than an hour of public comment and commissioner questioning, the commission voted to continue the hearing to April 16 at 6:00 p.m. to allow additional review and follow-up.

Planning Manager Jennifer Jones summarized the applications and the project site: approximately 1,119 acres under lease, with about 603 acres proposed for the facility footprint; the site is currently zoned Agriculture. Jones said the application requests a major 10-41 permit and a Special Use by Review to operate a utility-scale solar facility with up to 74.9 MW of solar and up to 50 MW of battery storage, including an on-site substation and operations/maintenance building. She reviewed the project timeline (pre-application and community meetings in 2024, formal application submitted December 2024, referral period March 2025) and noted prior approvals from 2018 (BOCC Resolution 18-9) had lapsed.

Jones outlined referral responses and recommended conditions. Among the referral agencies, Colorado Parks and…