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Mifflin County adopts solar-energy ordinance and narrows plan submission days for subdivision reviews
Summary
The Mifflin County Board of Commissioners approved amendments to the Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance to limit plan submission days and adopted a new solar-energy ordinance that sets rules for accessory rooftop systems and larger ground-mounted solar facilities; both actions passed by voice vote.
Mifflin County commissioners adopted changes to the county Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance and a new ordinance that establishes rules for solar energy systems after a public meeting and discussion.
The planning director told commissioners the submission amendment requires municipalities, rather than applicants, to submit plans to the county planning office and limits the calendar days when the county will accept subdivision and land-development plan submissions. The change was intended to prevent mid-month submissions that compress the county’s 30-day review period and create rushed reviews.
The commissioners also voted to strike the existing Article 4.215, “solar orientation and energy conservation,” and replace it with a new article titled “solar energy systems.” The planning director said the ordinance divides solar development into two categories: accessory solar energy systems, primarily for on-site use, and solar energy facilities, larger ground-mounted arrays intended primarily for off-site use. He said the new rules address permitting, stormwater management, buffering, noise, emergency response, decommissioning and bonding, and siting restrictions such as prohibiting arrays in floodways, wetlands and drainage corridors.
The planning director said the ordinance will apply to six municipalities that follow the county subdivision ordinance: Bratton Township, Wayne Township, Newton Hamilton Borough, Juniata Terrace Borough, Kistler and McVeytown. He said municipalities that maintain their own ordinances (for example, Derry Township) are not affected.
Commissioners and staff discussed tax and land-use implications. The planning director said, as he had been told, “these will be taxed as commercial structures and the land will be taxed, but not the panels themselves.” He also said projects typically run 20 to 30 years and that the county will use its county engineer to help evaluate decommissioning bonds and financial assurances.
The board approved both the submission-procedures amendment and the new solar-energy ordinance by voice vote. The chair said the adopted ordinance will be mailed and emailed to the six affected municipalities.
The record shows the county advertised both amendments in accordance with the Municipal Planning Code before the public hearing.
