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Bluff seeks rules for rooftop and larger renewable projects; local commenters urge soil protections and small-system exemptions

Bluff Town Council and Planning and Zoning public hearings ยท October 28, 2025

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Summary

Planners presented a SolSmart-informed renewable-energy ordinance that sets charts and conditional-use thresholds for rooftop and ground-mounted systems; commenters urged soil-protection rules and a permit exemption for very small systems.

Bluff's Planning & Zoning Commission presented a draft renewable-energy ordinance developed with guidance from SolSmart that lays out where and how rooftop, ground-mounted and larger renewable projects would be permitted. The draft uses charted thresholds and conditional-use review for larger systems and aims to position the town for SolSmart designation improvements.

Public commenters supported the general framework but urged stronger protections for agricultural soils (minimal soil disturbance), clearer examples and thresholds for small-scale systems that should be exempt from permitting, and explicit exclusions for large-scale industrial development in Bears Ears National Monument areas if federal-status changes make those lands available. One commenter suggested exempting systems below 1,200 watts from permitting, citing a recently passed state measure mentioned in the hearing.

Commissioners said the ordinance is intended to allow personal and community renewable projects while balancing agricultural and aesthetic concerns; charts and maps in the draft are being reviewed and the public is asked to submit written comments by Nov. 7.