Surry County planning commission tables proposed battery storage ordinance after extended technical and community discussion

The Surry County Planning Commission on Jan. — (work session portion) voted to table PC Ordinance Amendment 2024‑O‑4, the county's proposed rules for battery energy storage systems, after more than an hour of technical and policy discussion.

Commissioners and staff focused on public‑notice rules, emergency and fire safety measures, setbacks, noise limits and whether to allow BESS in agricultural (AR) zoning with a conditional use permit. Planning Director Mister Wade and legal advisor Miss Perkins guided the commission through the draft ordinance and answered questions from commissioners, including Miss Cheek, Mister Bremer, Mister Coggan and Mister Hardy.

The commission’s action: A motion to table the ordinance, made by Commissioner Cheek and seconded (second not specified in the record), carried by voice vote. The commission directed staff to return with a revised draft and, as part of follow‑up, to arrange a site visit for commissioners.

Why it matters: Several utility‑scale BESS projects are entering permitting nationwide and counties are defining local rules for land use, fire safety and community impacts. The commission’s decision delays a final local standard while staff incorporates technical guidance and community concerns.

What the draft and discussion covered

Scope and public participation: The draft largely mirrors language from Surry County’s solar ordinance on public‑meeting requirements. Commissioners debated the draft’s notice timing: the ordinance as written requires applicants to notify property owners at least seven days and not more than 14 days before a…