Planning Commission backs comprehensive plan amendment to limit large-scale solar outside M-3 zoning

The Prince George County Planning Commission on May 22 voted to forward a comprehensive plan amendment (CPA-25–solar) to the Board of Supervisors recommending adoption of revisions to the county’s solar energy facility siting policy. Planning staff presented the amendment as a response to multiple previously approved and proposed solar projects and to implement recent Board direction to limit additional large-scale solar facilities outside M-3 zoning.

Mr. Graves, planning staff, told commissioners that the existing siting policy — adopted in 2020 and incorporated into the comprehensive plan in 2022 — was written with guidance for projects proposed outside the M-3 zoning district. Staff said multiple projects already approved or in development occupy about 4,123 acres in the county, leaving roughly 480 acres of remaining acreage before the policy’s informal limit is reached. The proposed amendment would lower the maximum acreage allowed for large-scale solar outside M-3 and explicitly state the county’s preference that future large-scale solar facilities be placed in M-3 zoning whenever possible. Graves summarized the Board of Supervisors’ April 22 direction to staff as asking to “close the door on new facilities unless they’re zoned M 3.”

Staff also explained that the revised policy aims to address some practical gaps in the current guidance — including treatment of siting agreements between the county and developers and design standards originally drafted for rural (RA and A-1) settings — and that staff is preparing corresponding zoning ordinance amendments to implement the board’s policy direction. The packet included a redline/blueline showing textual changes and a table comparing the current and proposed policy approaches.

No members of the public spoke during the advertised hearing; staff said the change was advertised in accordance with state code requirements. After closing the public hearing, a commissioner moved to forward CPA-25–solar to the Board of Supervisors with a recommendation for approval; the roll call recorded the following votes: Miss Anderson — yes; Mr. Bresco — yes; Miss Coneppa — yes; Mr. McDonough — yes; Mr. Howe — yes.

If the Board accepts the Planning Commission’s recommendation, staff said the county will proceed with ordinance amendments to implement the policy changes and continue work on a full comprehensive plan update. Staff also noted pending development items, including site-plan review and requests for time extensions for projects already in the pipeline.