Planning board recommends conditional rezoning for 40‑acre solar project after extended, contentious hearing

A contentious public hearing on June 4 ended with the Iredell County Planning Board recommending approval, by a 5–4 tally, of a conditional rezoning to allow a solar energy system on roughly 40 acres at 5593 Wilkesboro Highway. The Planning Board first considered and voted down a motion to deny the request, then voted to recommend approval and forward the application to the County Commission, which will make the final decision at its July 15 meeting.

Planner Jake Lohman told the board the applicant reduced the request since the community meeting: the original parent parcel totals about 192 acres, and the rezoning request was narrowed to a 40‑acre area on the west side of Highway 115. Jake said the request is conditional and the submitted conceptual site plan shows proposed fences, panel locations outside the regulated floodplain and a 500‑foot setback…