Chino Valley planning commission forwards utility-scale solar ordinance to council after hours of public debate

The Chino Valley Planning and Zoning Commission voted 5-1 on Jan. 7 to forward TA2024-04, a proposed ordinance setting rules for utility-scale solar projects, to the Town Council with a recommendation of approval as presented by staff and as amended at the meeting.

The recommendation clears a path for the council to consider the ordinance that would create a solar-facility use-permit process and technical standards for siting, operation, decommissioning and public‑safety review if developers later propose projects inside Chino Valley town limits.

Will Dingy, assistant director for development services, told the commission, “This is not a request for a zone change. This is not a project approval.” Dingy said the text amendment would establish the “ground rules and the project requirements if a utility-scale solar project were to come into the town of Chino Valley limits.”

The staff draft and presentation proposed several specific requirements discussed at length during the public hearing and commission deliberations. Key provisions described in staff materials and discussed at the meeting include: - Acreage limit: a proposed cap of 3,800 acres of total project area inside the town (about 9.5% of incorporated Chino Valley as presented by staff). - Setbacks and separations: panel fields proposed to be set back one-quarter mile (1,320 feet) from the property line of developed residential lots and 50 feet from undeveloped residential property; separation between distinct solar projects proposed at 3 miles; battery energy storage systems (BESS) proposed to be centrally located inside a project or maintained at a minimum separation of one mile from developed residential property, whichever is greater. - Permit process…