The Germantown Planning Commission on Nov. 10 reconsidered its Oct. 13 denial of a 54-acre solar farm site plan submitted by 1 Energy and Development LLC and approved the site plan and the conditions recommended by staff and previously added by the commission.

Staff noted that the Village Board had already approved the conditional use permit (CUP) at its prior meeting; on advice of the village attorney the commission moved to re-open consideration of the site plan. Commissioners then debated whether to add a term to the CUP to preserve the village's ability to re-evaluate the project should state or federal law change. One commissioner suggested a five-year term so that the village could revisit approvals if legislation shifts; staff said attaching a time limit may not fit the narrow set of conditions the village may apply under local code and recommended asking the village attorney for an opinion.

After discussion, the commission voted to reconsider and then approved the site plan subject to the full set of recommended conditions (the staff packet referenced up to 15 conditions and the four extra conditions the commission had added previously), including landscaping, screening, and a formal landscape plan to achieve year-round perimeter screening. The commission also directed staff to consult the village attorney about whether a term could legally be attached to a CUP as a condition.

The action resolves the commission-level review of the site plan; the record indicates the Village Board's CUP remains in effect in perpetuity unless changed by subsequent lawful action.